Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of J.J. Lair's books

1074 ratings | 1026 reviews | avg rating:3.55

J.J.’s Year In Books

J.J.’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at J.J.’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to J.J.’s 2025 Year in Books

J.J. Lair’s Followers (58)

J.J.’s Bookshelves

to-read (93)
currently-reading (3)
read (1097)
did-not-finish (0)
biography (56)
bruce (6)
gods-and-warriors (31)
historical-fiction (17)
music-trivia (43)
new-jersey-authors (12)

J.J.’s Friends (217)

Join the Penguin Resistance!

89,597 books | 2,858 friends

Sheri

3,917 books | 347 friends

Crystal

1,993 books | 626 friends

Karl Kling

67 books | 2,185 friends

Virginia Soenksen

177 books | 397 friends

Jill S

1,497 books | 439 friends

David Allen Hines

766 books | 99 friends

Aaron Anstett

2,778 books | 4,519 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

J.J. Lair has read 77 of 92 books.

84%

J.J. Lair

Goodreads Author

Born

in Glen Ridge, The United States

November 12, 1970

Website

https://www.jjlairauthor.net

Twitter

jjmonmouth

Genre

Mystery, Contemporary, History

Influences

www.johnsteinbeck.com www.maryhigginsclark.com www.jkrowling.com www.s ...more

Member Since

September 2012

edit data

I live near the historical part of the shore where I write blogs, short stories, that novel I want to finish and making to-do lists.

The setting around me is loaded with history open to explore whether it's in books or driving around. I could have any number of podcasts or purchased music to listen to while I explore this world.

Writing Critique groups are a big help when it comes to practicing my craft. I used to be part of the local Writer's Group, The Writer's Block, and the writers that met at the Barnes and Noble.

To start each morning right, I look up Sally Forth, Pearls Before Swine, Drabble, Pickles, Peanuts comics.

Music is important for inspiring creativity. The music I look to depends on my mood or scene. I have every Springsteen ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask J.J. Lair questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
J.J. Lair’s books

Average rating: 4.45 · 11 ratings · 7 reviews · 6 distinct works

	Dear Pen Pal 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1998 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dream Dancing 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mix Tapes and Stolen Tests (Mix Tape #2) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murder in the Mirror really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2023	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mix Tapes and Stuff (Mix Tape #1) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mix Tapes and Empty Buildings 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by J.J. Lair…

730 posts
J.J. Lair's Blog

Copyrights on Plays

I’m not a copyright lawyer. There is a lot of information on the internet, for better or worse. I’ve read a play is copyrighted once it is performed. They say books are copyrighted when written.

It’s been decades since I met with play writers and actors in art centers.

Yeats ago, you could submit your play to a company called Samuel French in New York. They would publish and license your work w

J.J. is Currently Reading

J.J. Lair is currently reading

The Taking of New York City: Crime on the Screen and in the Streets of the Big Apple in the 1970s

by Andrew J. Rausch

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 20, 2026 04:16AM

J.J. Lair is currently reading

Their First Dance: A Clean and Uplifting Romance – A Harlequin Heartwarming Second Chance Tale (A Crystal Hill Romance Book 4)

by Laurie Batzel

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 20, 2026 04:15AM

J.J. Lair is currently reading

The Lonely Hearts Trivia Night

by Lauren Farnsworth

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 20, 2026 04:11AM

rss
J.J.’s Recent Updates

J.J. Lair and 14 other people liked James's review of The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon, #6): "I've missed reading a Dan Brown novel for a long time. This installment is a compelling push to think differently about what we believe is knowing our consciousness, the balance between life and death, the ability to know the future and truth while l" Read more of this review »
5 hours, 15 min ago · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair liked Kimberly’s status update Kimberly Kincaid finished reading Smolder (Remington Rescue Squad #3)
5 hours, 15 min ago
J.J. Lair wants to read Southern Hauntings (Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries, #11) by Amy Boyles (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 23, 2026 07:14PM · like
J.J. Lair and 1 other person liked Liz's Book Bucket List's review of The Divorce:
Oct 23, 2026 05:28PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Divorce by Freida McFadden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Divorce by Freida McFadden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair and 1 other person liked lentilsouplover's review of The Name of This Band Is R.E.M.: "This time last year I remember sitting drunk in the backseat of a car filled with former friends of mine, pestering them to play "Losing My Religion" over the stereo. I went on a tirade of how I didn't like this band because the singer has a funny vo" Read more of this review »
Oct 23, 2026 05:27PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair rated a book it was amazing The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I’m hooked right away. We go into each member growing up but no boring stories about favorite teachers or family. How each were introduced to music. Parents reaction. The band is together in the first 100 pages and the band stories get going. The boo ...more
Oct 23, 2026 10:43AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair wants to read The First World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 20, 2026 04:19AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The First World War by Martin Gilbert. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The First World War by Martin Gilbert <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair started reading The Taking of New York City: Crime on the Screen and in the Streets of the Big Apple in the 1970s by Andrew J. Rausch	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 20, 2026 04:16AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Taking of New York City by Andrew J. Rausch. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Taking of New York City by Andrew J. Rausch <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair started reading Their First Dance: A Clean and Uplifting Romance – A Harlequin Heartwarming Second Chance Tale (A Crystal Hill Romance Book 4) by Laurie Batzel	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 20, 2026 04:15AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Their First Dance by Laurie Batzel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Their First Dance by Laurie Batzel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.J. Lair started reading The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 20, 2026 04:11AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of J.J.'s books…

J.J.’s Quotes

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

tags: life

2913 likes

“There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it”
― Gustave Flaubert

tags: life, poetry

1778 likes

“Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.”
― Walker Evans

888 likes