Heartless Prince

Heartless Prince
by Leigh Dragoon
Hyperion, 2021, 160 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel

Heartless Prince is a graphic novel that follows a princess, Evony, who is taken in by another kingdom because hers was destroyed by a witch. When the prince of the kingdom she lives in loses his heart to the witch, Evony seeks out the witch who stole her prince's heart.

This book has fun twists and turns. It also has beautiful art that is drawn in a fun style. This book is great for those who want a quick fun fantasy read. It is also great for those who like a strong female main character.

If you like Heartless Prince, you might also like:

Another Castle, Grimoire
by Andrew Wheeler
Oni Press, 2017, 134 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel

Princess Misty of Beldora longs for a more exciting life, but gets more than she bargained for when she is captured by Lord Badlug, the ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Grimoire. He intends to marry her and conquer Beldora, leading the land into ruin and chaos. Together with the long-suffering citizens of Grimoire and a certain bumbling prince, Misty must fight to protect her kingdom and free both realms from Badlug's tyrannical rule. Misty is determined not to be another damsel in distress ; instead, she'll discover just what it takes to be the hero of the story.

Endless Forests
by April Genevieve Tucholke
Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2020. Young Adult Fantasy

In this stand-alone companion novel to The Boneless Mercies, the Cut-Queen and her band of shaven-skulled witches, The Hounds, are using their dark magic in an attempt to kill or convert everyone in Vorseland. Well, almost everyone. Seventeen-year-old Torvi and her younger sister, Frigga, are still fighting for goodness and light in a land covered in snow. But when the Cut-Queen captures Frigga, Torvi teams up with a band of new characters to rescue her sister or die trying. In this gender-bent retelling of King Arthur, April Tucholke showcases more fierce girl heroes, bloodlust, and quests for power in another darkly elegant tale that is perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, V.E. Schwab, and Heidi Heilig.

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The Next Right Thing

The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions
By Emily P. Freeman
Baker Publishing Group, 2019. 250 pages. Religion

Nothing gets our attention like an unmade decision: Should I accept the new position? Which schooling choice is best for my kids? How can I support my aging parents? When we have a decision to make and the answer isn't clear, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction. The Next Right Thing offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing.

Conversational, not preachy, and draws from the author's personal experiences. With bite-sized chapters and simple suggestions, readers can find several new practices to make their day-to-day decision-making intentional and less stressful.

If you liked The Next Right Thing, then you may also like:

The Last Lecture
By Richard Pausch
Hyperion Books, 2008. 206 pages. Biography/Memoir

Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can’t help but mull the same question: If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn’t have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

How to Figure Out What to Do with Your Life (Next)
By Jennifer Turliuk
Dundurn, 2021. 207 pages. Business

Jennifer Turliuk was dissatisfied in her corporate job, so she quit...but she had no idea what to do next. She embarked on a "self-education journey," interviewing and shadowing some of the world's leading professors, founders, and investors. What she discovered is not only a way to find out what she really wanted to do with her own life, but a career design process that would help others do just the same.

Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive
By Jessica N. Turner
Revell, 2018. 228 pages. Religion

At the end of each day, many working moms are exhausted and stretched too thin. But this doesn't have to be the norm! Turner shows working moms how to establish clear work boundaries that will help them discover more flexibility and develop home management solutions.

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Houseplants for All

Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants
by Danae Horst
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. 195 pages. Nonfiction

Turn over a new leaf with Houseplants for All and keep all your plants happy and healthy, while they do the same for you. Filled with bright and colorful photos, this beautiful primer is best for finding the perfect plant for your situation. Including ways to manage low light or low humidity areas, the author also covers common pests and problems with houseplants and how to prevent or care for plants when you get them. 

If you haven't found a plant for your indoor space yet, or plants have a tendency to wilt over time, then start here. It covers all the basics with clarity and makes having houseplants an achievable goal, especially for those who have difficulty incorporating them into their lives.

If you liked Houseplants for All, you may also like:

Plant Therapy: How an Indoor Green Oasis Can Improve Your Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
by Katie Cooper
Hardie Grant Books, 2020. 159 pages. Nonfiction

Broken down into five chapters--The Human-Nature Relationship, Plants and Health, Plants and People, Living with Plants and an informative Plant Directory--the book first explains how we have come to exist in an environment that is at odds with our mental, emotional and physical needs. Then the book explores how we can readjust this balance, before showcasing plants that help us to breathe, restore balance, and boost our wellbeing.

Plant Style: How to Greenify Your Space
by Alana Langan
Thames & Hudson Inc., 2018. 149 pages. Nonfiction

With design-savvy tips and expert advice, you’ll learn all there is to know about decorating with plants and botanical styling--plus the necessities like light requirements and when to water and feed. From bathroom to boudoir to every room in between, create your very own green oasis with Plant Style.

Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing, and Caring for Indoor Plants
by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf
Cool Springs, 2017. 272 pages. Nonfiction

In Houseplants, expert grower Lisa Eldred Steinkopf gives you the advice and information you need to confidently bring a plant (or two, or more!) home and find joy in keeping it lush and healthy. Organized by easiest to hardest to care for, this resource is key in finding and maintaining your indoor landscape.

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Me (Moth)

Me (Moth)
By Amber McBride
Feiwel and Friends, 2021. 248 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Moth, who lost her family in an accident, and Sani, who is fleeing abuse, take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors, which helps them move forward in surprising, powerful and unforgettable ways.

Written in verse, the words are crafted together to create a vibrant journey of self-discovery in the face of pain and abandonment. Heart-breaking, yet uplifting, and a beautiful read.

If you liked Me (Moth), then you may also like:

African Town: inspired by the true story of the last American slave ship
By Irene Latham
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2022. 438 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America in 1860, African Town is a powerful and stunning novel-in-verse. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this novel powerfully recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today.

A Million Quiet Revolutions

By Robin Gow

Farrar Straus Giroux, 2022. 336 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Two seventeen-year-old trans boys in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, struggling to understand themselves and their love for each other, are inspired by an online story about trans soldiers who fell in love during the American Revolution. As they delve further into unwritten queer stories, they rediscover the transformative power of reclaiming one’s place in history.

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Tiny Nightmares

Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Tales of Horror
with Lincoln Michel, editor
Catapult, 2020. 289 pages. Short Stories

Tiny Nightmares brings to life broken-hearted vampires, Uber-taking serial killers, mind-reading witches, and monsters of all imaging, as well as stories that tackle the horrors of our modern world from global warming and racism to social media addiction and online radicalization.

A spine-tingling collection where leading literary and horror writers spin unforgettably chilling tales in only a few pages, so be sure to read this with a light (or two) on. Recommended for those looking to find more stories to tell over a campfire and for bite-sized shocks that linger.

If you liked Tiny Nightmares, then you may also like:

The Crossroads at Midnight
by Abby Howard
Iron Circus Comics, 2020. 344 pages. Young Adult Comics

In this collection of literary slice-of-life horror, five stories explore what happens when one is desperate enough to seek solace and connection in the world of monsters and darkness.

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
by Daniel M. Lavery
Henry Holt and Company, 2018. 190 pages. Short Stories

Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.

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Women and Leadership

Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons
by Julia Gilliard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

MIT Press, 2021. eBook. Nonfiction

Women make up fewer than ten per cent of national leaders worldwide, and behind this eye-opening statistic lies a pattern of unequal access to power. Through conversations with some of the world's most powerful and interesting women, Women and Leadership explores gender bias and asks why there aren't more women in leadership roles.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a pivotal moment in history for women in global and local leadership roles. Women and Leadership is anchored in this massive global change and provides the much-needed update on women leadership in a changed world. With humor and solid strategy pulled from eight real-world stories, Women and Leadership shows the inequalities faced by women leaders and provides steps to rise above.

If you liked Women and Leadership, then you may also like:

Called to Lead: Success Strategies for Women
by Pegine Echevarria

Palnoma Press, Ltd., 2021. 214 pages. Nonfiction

Leadership is calling. The world needs women who say "YES!" and lead. Is this you? Gain actionable insights from diverse women worldwide who share their wisdom and advice for your multifaceted life.

She Represents: 44 Women Who are Changing Politics...and the World
by Caitlin Donahue

Zest Books, 2020. 214 pages. YA Nonfiction

Each of the forty women profiled in this illustrated YA book demonstrates how women are capable of political and community leadership and activism. Readers will be inspired to pursue their own goals of social change.

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This One Wild And Precious Life

This One Wild And Precious Life: The Path Back to Connection in a Fractured World
By Sarah Wilson
Dey St., 2020. 344 pages. Nonfiction

Many of us are living with the sense that things are not right with the world as global problems continue to mount, leaving us in a state of spiritual PTSD. We have retreated, morally and psychologically; we are experiencing a crisis of disconnection—from one another, from our true values, from joy, and from life as we feel we are meant to be living it. Sarah Wilson argues that this sense of despair and disconnection is ironically what unites us—that deep down, we are all feeling that same itch for a new way of living.

Each chapter's heading is written like a small poem, making every word feel deliberate. With notes included in the margins and a vast array of topics that seem separate yet connected, This One Wild and Precious Life provides a peek into a world both new and familiar. Drawing on science, literature, philosophy and the wisdom of some of the world's leading experts, and her personal journey, Wilson weaves a one-of-a-kind narrative that lights the way back to the life we love.

If you liked This One Wild And Precious Life, you may also like:

For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals For Finding Meaning In Our Unlikely World
By Sasha Sagan
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2019. 275 pages. Nonfiction

Sasha Sagan was raised by secular parents, the astronomer Carl Sagan and the writer and producer Ann Druyan. They taught her that the natural world and vast cosmos are full of profound beauty, that science reveals truths more wondrous than any myth or fable. When Sagan herself became a mother, she began her own hunt for the natural phenomena behind our most treasured occasions that honor the joy and significance of each experience, providing a luminous exploration of Earth's marvels that require no faith in order to be believed.

Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World

By Sharon Salzberg

Flatiron Books, 2020. 230 pages. Nonfiction

In today's fractured world we're constantly flooded with breaking news that cause anger, grief, and pain. People feel so burnt out and overwhelmed that they end up frozen in their tracks and can't do anything. Salzberg teaches us that meditation is not a replacement for action, but rather a way to practice generosity with ourselves and summon the courage to break through boundaries, reconnect to a movement that's bigger than ourselves, and have the energy to stay active. Her fundamental principles and mindfulness practices will lead to the clarity and confidence that lets us lift a foot and take our next step into a better world.

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Hunt, Gather, Parent

Hunt, Gather, Parent : What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans
by Michaeleen Doucleff

Avid Reader Press, 2021. 341 pages. Nonfiction

The oldest cultures in the world have mastered the art of raising happy, well-adjusted children, so why don't these cultures have the same problems with children that Western parents do? 

Michaeleen Doucleff, an NPR Science Desk correspondent and working mother, challenges the misleading child-rearing practices commonly recommended to parents in the United States by outlining alternatives grounded in international ancestral traditions that are being used effectively throughout the modern world. She finds that parents build a relationship with young children that is vastly different from the one many Western parents develop—it's built on cooperation instead of control, trust instead of fear, and personalized needs instead of standardized development milestones.

By breaking down the bias surrounding current "common sense" parenting practices in the United States, as well as the recent history of the majority of these suggestions, Hunt, Gather, Parent provides a wealth of perspectives and comprehensive research about how we relate to our children and actionable methods that can be applied immediately. Easy to read with a wealth of information, I definitely recommend this book for parents looking for more cross-cultural information, as well as readers of anthropology and family science.

If you liked Hunt, Gather, Parent, then you may also like:

The Working Parent's Survival Guide: How to Parent Smarter not Harder
by Anita Cleare

Rowman & Littlefield, 2021. 169 pages. Nonfiction

Most modern parents work. We are seldom at our best at the end of a long working day when the parenting shift kicks in. This book suggests ways to tune in to the needs of our children and families by focusing on the quality of time (not the quantity) needed to cultivate better family wellbeing. Written by an expert in child development, the book walks you through strategies for maximizing what time you have with your family to best meet your family's needs.

Do Parents Matter?: Why Japanese Babies Sleep Well, Mexican Siblings Don't Fight, and American Parents Should Just Relax
by Robert A. LeVine

Public Affairs, 2016. 238 pages. Nonfiction

When we're immersed in news articles and scientific findings proclaiming the importance of some factor or other, we often miss the bigger picture: that parents can only affect their children so much. Robert and Sarah LeVine, married anthropologists at Harvard University, have spent their lives researching parenting across the globe-starting with a trip to visit the Hausa people of Nigeria as newlyweds in 1969. Their decades of original research provide a new window onto the challenges of parenting and the ways that it is shaped by economic, cultural, and familial traditions. Their ability to put our modern struggles into global and historical perspective should calm many a nervous mother or father's nerves. 

It has become a truism to say that American parents are exhausted and overstressed about the health, intelligence, happiness, and success of their children. But as Robert and Sarah LeVine show, this is all part of our culture. And a look around the world may be just the thing to remind us that there are plenty of other choices to make

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The Kitchen Without Borders

The Kitchen Without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs
by Eat Offbeat
Workman Publishing, 2021. 212 pages. Nonfiction

The Kitchen without Borders brings the culinary traditions of fourteen chefs from around the world including Syria, Iran, Eritrea, and Venezuela, right to our tables. Discover delicious, unexpected flavor combinations, and ingredients--like sumac, pomegranate molasses, tahini--that will enhance the repertoire of any home cook or adventurous eater.

If you're interested in learning more about international fare without any sort of fusion getting in the way, then I definitely recommend this cookbook. Not only does it do a fantastic job of outlining the culture surrounding a particular dish, it weaves the stories of the chefs into each recipe, highlighting that the best food is the dish that feels like home, no matter where you are.

If you liked The Kitchen Without Borders, then you may also like:

The Art of Escapism Cooking: A Survival Story, with Insanely Good Flavors

by Mandy Lee
William Morrow, 2019. 391 pages. Nonfiction

For Mandy Lee, moving from New York to Beijing for her husband's work wasn't an exotic adventure--it was an ordeal. Mandy cooked because it channeled her focus, helping her cope with the difficult circumstances of her new life. She filled her kitchen with warming spices and sticky sauces while she shared recipes and observations about life, food, and cooking in her blog posts. Born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, she came of age food-wise in New York City and now lives in Hong Kong; her food reflects the many places she's lived. This entertaining and unusual cookbook is the story of how 'escapism cooking'--using the kitchen as a refuge and ultimately creating delicious and satisfying meals--helped her crawl out of her expat limbo.

The Bread and Salt Between Us: Recipes and Stories from a Syrian Refugee's Kitchen

by Mayada Anjari

Lake Isle Press, 2018. 176 pages. Nonfiction

The Bread and Salt Between Us offers over forty recipes that recall the flavor and comforts of Mayada's home in Syria. From the fresh tabbouleh she learned to prepare alongside her mother and sisters to the rice pudding that won over her future husband, these easy-to-approach dishes tell the story of a family whose culinary traditions have sustained them as they build a new life in the United States. The story of Mayada's journey is beautifully chronicled in this personal recipe collection.

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Second First Impressions

Second First Impressions: a Novel
by Sally Thorne
William Morrow, 2021. 336 pages. Romance

Young and beautiful Ruthie, the retirement villa’s manager, is an old soul looking for a man who wants to snuggle up on the couch and watch her favorite shows. Despite her coworker’s pleas to set her up, Ruthie’s demanding job and trauma over her previous relationship make her reluctant to seek out love. When the CEO of the company that has acquired the retirement community coerces his carefree son, Teddy, to work for Ruthie while living on the property, she finds that maybe love is just next door.

This fun and quirky romance between two unlikely people is a lot of fun to read. Complete with a cast of characters that deserve their own book, Second First Impressions will have you laughing and rooting for Ruthie and Teddy the whole way through.

If you like Second First Impressions, then you might like:

Evvie Drake Starts Over
by Linda Holmes
Ballantine Books, 2019. 293 pages. Fiction

Evvie Drake has spent her whole life in Calcasset, Maine, and doesn’t feel as sad about her widowhood as she believes she should—possibly because she was packing up to leave her husband when she got the call about his deadly car accident. Then Dean Tenney, a former New York Yankees pitcher who has inexplicably lost his amazing pitching ability, comes to Maine to retreat from the media. 

People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
Jove, 2021. 364 pages. Romance

Poppy Wright met Alex Nilsen 12 years ago on the first day of college orientation, and they never got along—until a road trip from Chicago back to their neighboring Ohio towns, which sparked a deep friendship and a tradition of taking a yearly summer vacation together. But Poppy and Alex haven’t spoken much since a disastrous trip two summers ago, and the details of what triggered their falling out are teased maddeningly slowly. When Poppy realizes that what she wants most in the world is to have Alex back in her life, she arranges a shoestring-budget vacation to Palm Springs that she hopes will fix everything.

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Caste

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Random House, 2020. 476 pages. Nonfiction

Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people--including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball's Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others--she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day.

Part memoir and part thesis, Caste breaks down barriers between historic and current events, bringing the weight and societal toll of segregation and class systems to the forefront of each page. The intense imagery and frank storytelling is a force of its own to make crystal-clear connections between horrors across countries, people, and time, illustrating how these structures manifest most clearly with violence and terror toward American Blacks. Isabel Wilkerson builds a masterful accounting, creating a critical shift of understanding in all the ways American society and justice work in a prescriptive fashion to create and protect the American Caste.

If you liked Caste, then you might also like:

The Color of Law: a Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
by Richard Rothstein
Liveright Publishing, 2017. 342 pages. Nonfiction

Richard Rothstein explodes the myth that America's cities came to be racially divided through de facto segregation--that is, through individual prejudices, income differences, or the actions of private institutions like banks and real estate agencies. Rather, The Color of Law incontrovertibly makes it clear that it was de jure segregation--the laws and policy decisions passed by local, state, and federal governments--that actually promoted the discriminatory patterns that continue to this day.

Between the World and Me
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Spiegel & Grau, 2015. 152 pages. Nonfiction

African American Coates shares with his son--and reader--the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose children's lives were taken as American plunder.

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Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
Ballantine Books, 2021. 476 pages. Science Fiction

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission--and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him.

If you liked Project Hail Mary, then you might also like:

How to Astronaut
by Terry Virts
Workman Publishing, 2020. 310 pages. Science Nonfiction

Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts offers an insider's guide to astronauting with a behind-the-scenes look at the training, the basic rules, lessons, and procedures of space travel, including how to deal with a dead body in space, what it's like to film an IMAX movie in orbit, what exactly to do when nature calls, and much more.

Goldilocks
by Laura Lam
Orbit, 2020. 340 pages. Science Fiction

A gripping science fiction thriller where five women task themselves with ensuring the survival of the human race. Despite increasing restrictions on the freedoms of women on Earth, Valerie Black is spearheading the first all-female mission to a planet in the Goldilocks Zone, where conditions are just right for human habitation.

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Never Split the Difference

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your life depended on it

by Chris Voss

Harper Business, 2016. 288 pages. Business

A former international hostage negotiator for the FBI offers a new, field-tested approach to high-stakes negotiations—whether in the boardroom or at home. Never Split the Difference takes you inside the world of high-stakes negotiations and into Voss's head, revealing the skills that helped him and his colleagues succeed where it mattered most: saving lives. In this practical guide, he shares the nine effective principles—counterintuitive tactics and strategies—you too can use to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life. With poignant examples from the field and practical ways to implement the skills in your daily communication, Never Split the Difference will impact your communication style right from page one.

If you like Never Split the Difference, you may also like:

Stalling for Time

by Gary Noesner

Penguin Random House, 2018. 240 pages. Biography/Memoir

In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes readers on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with insight and breathtaking suspense.

Start with No

by Jim Camp

Penguin Random House, 2020. 288 pages. Business

Think a win-win solution is the best way to make the deal? Think again. For years now, win-win has been the paradigm for business negotiation. But today, win-win is just the seductive mantra used by the toughest negotiators to get the other side to compromise unnecessarily, early, and often. Win-win negotiations play to your emotions and take advantage of your instinct and desire to make the deal. Start with No introduces a system of decision-based negotiation that teaches you how to understand and control these emotions. It teaches you how to ignore the siren call of the final result, which you can’t really control, and how to focus instead on the activities and behavior that you can and must control in order to successfully negotiate with the pros.

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The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary
by Sarah Penner
Park Row Books, 2021. 301 pages. Historical fiction

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientèle. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary's fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. 

When aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary's in a stunning twist of fate, and not everyone will survive.

If you like The Lost Apothecary, you may also like:

The Light Over London

by Julia Kelly

Gallery Books, 2019. 293 pages. Historical fiction

It's always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. 

Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier's life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.

The House on Vesper Sands

by Paraic O'Donnell

Tin House, 2021. 403 pages. Historical fiction

London, 1893: high up in a house on a dark, snowy night, a lone seamstress stands by a window. 

So begins the swirling, serpentine world of Paraic O'Donnell's Victorian-inspired mystery, the story of a city cloaked in shadow, but burning with questions: why does the seamstress jump from the window? Why is a cryptic message stitched into her skin? And how is she connected to a rash of missing girls, all of whom seem to have disappeared under similar circumstances?

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Cosmic Queries

Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going
By Neil deGrasse Tyson
National Geographic, 2021. 309 pages. Science

Tyson and coauthor James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia—How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone?—and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories. Populated with paradigm-shifting discoveries that help explain the building blocks of astrophysics, this relatable and entertaining book will engage and inspire listeners of all ages.

If you like Cosmic Queries, you might also like:

Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality

by Frank Wilczek

Penguin Press, 2021. 254 pages. Science

Nobel Prize winner Frank Wilczek's Fundamentals is built around a simple but profound idea: the models of the world we construct as children are practical and adequate for everyday life, but they do not bring in the surprising and mind-expanding revelations of modern science. To do that, we must look at the world anew, combining clear thinking with an openness to wonder. This "born again" world is in many ways larger, fuller, and much stranger than it appears.

The Last Stargazers

by Emily Levesque

Sourcebooks, 2020. 313 pages. Science

Award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science. From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery.

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The Hilarious World of Depression

The Hilarious World of Depression
By John Moe
St. Martin's Press, 2020. 285 pages. Nonfiction

John Moe does vital work in combatting the discrimination and difficulty that people with mental illnesses have to struggle against just to function. With a realistic and stark honesty about his personal experiences, Moe builds a compelling narrative for readers (or listeners) to get an insider's look at the world of living with depression inside your own head.

The audio book is narrated by the author, who has years of public radio shows and a podcast (of the same name) behind him to make the audio engaging and fun to listen to. By including actual interview segments from the individuals he quotes throughout the book, Moe's experiences are further supported and joined by a chorus of celebrity and professionals that struggle with depression and illness every day. Topics discussed throughout the book include living with symptoms while undiagnosed, the weight of thinking there's something fundamentally wrong, thoughts of suicidal ideation, and living in the wake of a family member's suicide.

The Hilarious World of Depression provides a necessary window into how it is impossible to just "bounce back" when struggling with depression and pulls apart societal stigmas surrounding medication and therapy. Supported by a tapestry of voices the author encountered in his own interviews for his podcast, listeners will walk away with an understanding, validation, or renewed hope that help is possible.

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Dry

Dry: Delicious Handcrafted Cocktails and Other Clever Concoctions: Seasonal, Refreshing, Alcohol-Free
by Clare Liardet

The Experiment, 2018. 143 pages. Nonfiction.

A little book with a lot of flavor, this collection of alcohol-free cocktails is a must for anyone interested in exploring sophisticated flavor profiles of the world of mocktails. In addition to the perfect primer on mixology that covers common terms and gear, each simple recipe walks you through either the flavor profile or benefits of the particular mocktail. From dessert to clever pick-me-ups, there is sure to be a new favorite drink for you to add to your week.

I'm always on the lookout for interesting flavor combinations and this recipe book doesn't disappoint. One of the things I love about mocktails is that you can make them for anyone. Good mocktails are an experience both lovely and delicious. Each recipe is accompanied by vibrant photos that provide serving suggestions, as well as a range of flavors from creative sodas like a Blueberry-Mint Julep to adventurous remakes like a Beet Virgin Mary. If you're curious about what is beyond soda and syrups, then Dry: Delicious Handcrafted Cocktails and Other Clever Concoctions is a good place to start.

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A Court of Silver Flames

A Court of Silver Flames

by Sarah J. Maas

Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021. 757 pages. Fantasy.

Sarah J. Maas returns to her Court of Thrones and Roses series with a new installment following Feyre's oldest sister, Nesta, and the Night Court General, Cassian. Following the events of the Hybern War, Nesta still hasn't made peace with her new body and new life. Nesta, always quick to anger, turns her hate inward with a deep dive into self-destructive behaviors until her family has had enough. She is forced to train with Cassian, which ignites her anger and the passion she's determined to ignore.

As Nesta fights to find peace despite her hatred, she discovers that the end of the War only brings a different type of battle, and the power to end it lies deep within herself. If only she can find the courage to confront it.

A Court of Silver Flames fits perfectly with the story and characters the author developed previously. Nesta and Cassian's story is filled with emotional tension, ethical dilemma, and steamy romance. With masterful narration and action, this book is a fun read and impossible to put down.

AS