The Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot

By Amy Poeppel

Atria, 2023. 394 pages. Fiction. 

In the Sweet Spot, a dive bar at the heart of Greenwich Village, three women, when a baby lands on their collective doorstep, rise to the occasion in order to forgive, to forget and to track down the wayward parents, unexpectedly finding their own happily-ever-afters along the way. 

I enjoyed this book and loved watching the relationships between the 3 women start very contentious and transform into a chosen family. Even with a large cast of characters, the writing was clear and each person unique enough that it was not difficult to follow all the intricate plot details. The men take a back seat in this story and the women are the leads. A very feel-good read that is humorous and all about misunderstandings and new beginnings.

Family Family

By Laurie Frankel 

Henry Holt and Company, 2024 386 pages. Fiction.

India Allwood grew up wanting to be an actress. Armed with a stack of index cards and a hell of a lot of talent, she goes from awkward 16-year-old to Broadway ingenue to TV star. But while promoting her most recent project, a film about adoption, India does what you should never do - she tells a journalist the truth: it's a bad movie. Like so many movies about adoption, it tells only one story, a tragic one. But India's an adoptive mom herself and knows there's so much more to her family than tragedy. Soon she's at the center of a media storm, battling accusations from the press and the paparazzi, from protesters on the right and advocates on the left. Her daughter Fig knows they need help - and who better to call for help than family? Because India's not just an adoptive mom. She also had a baby she gave up for adoption her senior year of high school. That baby is now sixteen, excited to meet her birth mother and eager to help, but she also has an agenda and secrets of her own.

Pineapple Street

By Jenny Jackson 

Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, 2023. 304 pages. Fiction. 

Darley, the eldest daughter in the Stockton family, has never worried about money. The product of generational wealth and capitalist success, Darley renounced her inheritance when she married Malcolm, a first generation Korean American with a lucrative job in banking. Sasha, Darley's new sister-in-law, has come from more humble origins, and her hesitancy about signing a pre-nup has everyone worried about her intentions. Georgiana, newly graduated from Brown and proud to think of herself as a "do-gooder," has enough money from her trust that she's able to work for a pittance at a not-for-profit, where she has started a secret love affair with a senior colleague. But when a scandal derails Malcolm's career, leaving Darley financially in the lurch, when Sasha glimpses the less-than-attractive attributes beneath the Stockton brood's carefully-guarded fȧade, and when Georgiana discovers her boyfriend is married and still in love with his wife, they must all come to terms with what money can't buy--the bonds of love that can make and unmake a family. Rife with the indulgent pleasures of affluent WASPS in New York and full of recognizable if fallible characters (and a couple of appalling ones!), it's about the peculiar unknowability of someone else's family, about the haves and have-nots and the nuances in between, and the insanity of first love--Pineapple Street is a scintillating, wryly comic novel of race, class, wealth and privilege in an age that disdains all of it.

JK

Witch of Wild Things

Witch of Wild Things 

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland 

Berkley, 2023. 311 pages. Romance

Sage Flores has been running from her family—and their “gifts”—ever since her younger sister Sky died. Eight years later, Sage reluctantly returns to her hometown and takes back her job at Cranberry Rose Company. She uses her ability to communicate with plants to discover unusual heritage specimens in the surrounding lands, accompanied by the man who broke her heart in high school, Tennessee Reyes. 

 After writing several successful young adult novels, Witch of Wild Things is a triumphant first adult novel for Gilliland. Combining second chance romance, sister relationships, and magical realism, Gilliland tells the story of Sage Flores and her journey to reconnect with her family and her past. Sage doesn’t have time for romance, but Tennessee is a male lead that cannot be ignored. I loved this romance that offered a fuller tale of Sage’s life, sisters, and magical gifts. 

If you like Witch of Wild Things, you might also like: 

The Enchanted Hacienda

by J.C. Cervantes 

Park Row Books, 2023. 363 pages. Fiction

Harlow Estrada returns to the enchanted Hacienda Estrada, a family farm in Mexico where her mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins harness the magic of charmed flowers, but when she’s chosen to watch over the farm, she panics since she, herself, is magic-less, until she opens her heart to love and creativity. 

Lost and Found Sisters

by Jill Shalvis 

William Morrow, 2017. 371 pages. Romance 

Feeling empty after the accidental death of her sister, a Los Angeles chef is shattered when a lawyer reveals a devastating family secret that prompts her to relocate to a different town, where she finds solace in simple pleasures and a kindhearted new friend. 

AB

We Used to Live Here

We Used to Live Here

By Marcus Kliewer

Emily Bestler Books, 2024. 312 pages. Horror Fiction.

As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. When Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality.

First, I couldn't put this book down, even as it was terrifying me right before bed.  Then, as soon as I finished I had to go online and look into the very rapidly growing fanbase and read all of their theories.  And now, I think about it at least once a week and am very impatiently waiting for official word of a sequel.  Kliewer did a fantastic job letting us into the mind of the main character while also making us doubt her perception of reality.  I firmly believe that any horror fans that also enjoy ciphers and hidden clues will be obsessed with this book.

If you like We Used To Live Here, you might also like: 

Incidents Around the House

By Josh Malerman

Del Ray, 2024. 367 pages. Horror Fiction.

To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There's Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: Can I go inside your heart? When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel. But Other Mommy needs an answer. Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.

House of Leaves

By Mark Z Danielewski

Pantheon Books, 2000. 709 pages. Horror Fiction.

A young family moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story—of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams.

Wonderland

By Zoje Stage
Mulholland Books, 2020. 358 pages. Horror Fiction.

One mother's love may be all that stands between her family, an enigmatic presence--and madness. After years of city life, Orla and Shaw Bennett are ready for the quiet of New York's Adirondack mountains--or at least, they think they are. Settling into the perfect farmhouse with their two children, they are both charmed and unsettled by the expanse of their land, the privacy of their individual bedrooms, and the isolation of life a mile from any neighbor. But none of the Bennetts could expect what lies waiting in the woods, where secrets run dark and deep. When something begins to call to the family-from under the earth, beneath the trees, and within their minds-Orla realizes she might be the only one who can save them . . . if she can find out what this force wants before it's too late

KJ

¡Canta Tu Nombre!

¡Canta Tu Nombre!
Por Jason Derulo
Harpercollins Espanol, 2024. 272 páginas. No Ficción

En su cautivante e inspirador primer libro, el legendario compositor y cantante Jason Derulo comparte sus 15 reglas para alcanzar el éxito en todo y nos invita --en particular a los artistas y creadores-- a iniciar el camino hacia la grandeza.

En 2009, un chico de 18 años, hijo de inmigrantes haitianos irrumpió en las listas del Billboard con la canción "Whatcha Say", que de inmediato ocupó el primer lugar, con su sorprendente gancho, una frase que se convertiría en una de las más pegajosas de la historia de la música pop: su propio nombre, cantado a toda voz. Desafiando todas las probabilidades, Jason Derulo se plantó una y otra vez, éxito tras éxito, como uno de los cantantes, bailarines e intérpretes más trabajadores del mundo y como una fuerza arriesgada de la naturaleza.

Esta es la extraordinaria historia del ascenso de Derulo, contada mediante los valiosos principios que lo guiaron e impulsaron hacia la excelencia artística. El compromiso de Derulo con su sueño y su dedicación para realizarlo es materia de leyenda: levantarse a las 4 de la mañana para alcanzar autobuses por Miami y poder asistir a las escuelas de artes escénicas con una beca, apuntarse en los concursos locales de canto en el centro comercial los fines de semana y escribir cientos de canciones sin siquiera haber visto el interior de un estudio de grabación. Pero fue durante su reinvención en 2020, después de convertirse en uno de los creadores más seguidos en Titok, cuando descubrió que sus reglas personales para el autodominio y el éxito aplican en cualquier lugar, para cualquier persona y ante cualquier circunstancia.

Si le gusta «¡Canta tu nombre!» le recomendamos:

Hija Legitima
Por Aida Rodriguez
Harpercollins Espanol, 2024. 288 páginas. No Ficción

Un divertido y conmovedor libro de memorias en ensayo de la comediante Aida Rodríguez sobre el poder de superar las dificultades y transformar el dolor en risa.

Aida Rodríguez ha vivido, por decir poco, una vida de torbellino. La historia de cómo pasó de la pobreza a la opulencia es alucinante: cuando era niña, su madre la secuestró y se la llevó de la República Dominicana a los Estados Unidos. Más tarde, un nuevo secuestro, esta vez a manos de su abuela y su tío, la dejó en Florida. Ya de adulta, escapó de un matrimonio tormentoso y terminó, junto con sus hijos, mendigando por las calles de Los Ángeles. Durante todas esas adversidades, Aida nunca perdió su sentido del humor.

Nacida con un maravilloso ingenio y un espíritu irrefrenable, Aida ha utilizado su talento y trabajado sin descanso para convertir la tragedia y el dolor en una comedia mordaz que abarca todo, desde la misoginia y el racismo hasta las redes sociales y los titulares de prensa. Con el tiempo, lanzó un exitoso especial en Max que la llevó a múltiples acuerdos de desarrollo, un logro que le ganó una audiencia nacional, le abrió puertas y la ayudó expandir la forma en que los latinos están representados en la comedia.

En este, su tan esperado primer libro, Aida dibuja sus muchos altibajos. Desde los contratiempos personales hasta los éxitos profesionales, Hija legítima es entrañable, impactante y, en última instancia, vivificante.

Dharma Para la Vida Diaria
Por Suneel Gupta
Harpercollins Espanol, 2024. 244 páginas. No Ficción

Encuentra tu dharma --tu llamado interior-- y aprende a integrar ambición, trabajo y bienestar para crear una vida equilibrada y dichosa con esta guía práctica del reconocido conferencista, autor bestseller y cofundador del Gross National Happiness Center.

Hemos sido condicionados, desde temprana edad, a creer que un día alcanzaremos un momento de "llegada". Sin importar cuánto logremos o acumulemos, no nos sentimos tan satisfechos o plenos como pensábamos que nos sentiríamos. Exhaustos, nos convertimos en profesionales agotados y cínicos que cuestionan el propósito de todo.

Un experto en la felicidad y el trabajo, Suneel Gupta, sostiene que por mucho tiempo la sociedad ha estado obsesionada en el "futuro del trabajo" y ha ignorado el "futuro de la riqueza". Hemos segmentado el trabajo y el bienestar, e ignorado el hecho de que ambos son esenciales para mantener el éxito. Hemos asumido que el éxito exterior lleva al bienestar, a pesar de que la historia nos muestra que nunca ha sido así.

En este libro, Suneel nos ayuda a romper este ciclo negativo. Con su fascinante capacidad narrativa, entreteje experiencias personales, historia, ciencia, filosofía occidental y modalidades orientales en este libro iluminador y prescriptivo. Comienza por ayudarnos a identificar nuestro dharma, la esencia de lo que somos. Cuando estás en tu Dharma, te sientes seguro, creativo y empático, con un sentido de propósito, y todo eso resplandece en tu vida y tu trabajo.

MEB

Labels: Español, MEB, No Ficción, Biografía

Nicked

Nicked

by M.T. Anderson

Pantheon Books, 2024. 220 pages. Historical Fiction

The year is 1087, and a pox is sweeping through the Italian port city of Bari. When a lowly monk, Nicephorus, is visited by Saint Nicholas in his dreams, he interprets the vision as a call to action. But his superiors, and the power brokers they serve, have different plans. Enter Tyun, a charismatic treasure hunter renowned for "liberating" holy relics from their tombs. The seven-hundred-year-old bones of Saint Nicholas rest in distant Myra, Tyun explains, and they're rumored to weep a mysterious liquid that can heal the sick. For the humble price of a small fortune, Tyun will steal the bones and deliver them to Bari, curing the plague and restoring glory to the fallen city. And Nicephorus, the "dreamer," will be his guide. What follows is a heist for the ages, as Nicephorus is swept away on strange tides—and alongside even stranger bedfellows—to commit an act of sacrilege.

Perhaps due to his roots as an award-wining YA author, Anderson does a great job of balancing what could be dark topics with a light-hearted tone. This is a book about a heist, after all! There's also a sense of light magic and mysticism about the book. For example, one of the characters is a dog-headed man. While the time and setting are distant enough that I couldn't understand everything that was going on—especially the short mentions of church rituals and political intrigues of the 11th Century—the light tone and fast pacing allowed me to go along for the ride. This was refreshing historical fiction read.

If you like Nicked you might also like:

The Familiar

by Leigh Bardugo

Flatiron Books, 2024. 385 pages. Historical Fantasy

In the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the lines between magic, science, and fraud are never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath.

Baudolino

by Umberto Ecco

Harcourt, 2002. 522 pages. Historical Fiction

Born a simple peasant in northern Italy, Baudolino narrates the story of his life, from his adoption by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his education in Paris to his arrival in Constantinople during the turmoil of the Fourth Crusade.

MB

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

By Holly Jackson
Random House, 2021. 389 pages. Young Adult

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town. But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a twisting and turning murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Pip is a lovable character who I admired and rooted for throughout the story. She bravely fought for a worthy cause in a town that was content with an incomplete resolution to a murder case. I particularly appreciate stories that champion the underdog and strive for justice, and this one certainly delivers on that front. Once you're done reading you can go check out the TV series based on the book on Netflix!

If you liked A Good Girls Guide to Murder, you might also like: 

The Black Queen
By Jumata Emill
Delacorte Press, 2023

When Nova, Lovett High School's first black homecoming queen, is murdered the night of her coronation, her best friend, Duchess, finds an unlikely ally in her search for the killer--her prime suspect, Tinsley, the white rival nominee for queen.

One of us is lying
By Karen McManus
Delacorte Press, 2017

When the creator of a high school gossip app mysteriously dies in front of four high-profile students, all four become suspects. It's up to them to solve the case.

The Only One Left

The Only One Left

By Riley Sager

Dutton, 2023. 382 pages. Fiction.

Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume 17-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End. It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her 70s and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer, "I want to tell you everything.” As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought. 

An excellent Gothic thriller with twists and turns in true Riley Sager fashion. The decaying Hope’s End made for a perfectly eerie setting and created a sense of true urgency in the final moments of the book. Sager’s Kit McDeere is one half unreliable narrator and one half a relatable mess, but either way, I was rooting for her to find out the truth from beginning to end. Overall, if you love a suspenseful read with light horror elements, you are sure to love The Only One Left.

If you liked The Only One Left, you might also like:

Daisy Darker

By Alice Feeney

Flatiron Books, 2022. 338 pages. Mystery

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker's entire family is assembling for Nana's 80th birthday party in Nana's crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows. Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

The Family Upstairs

By Lisa Jewell

Atria Books, 2019. 340 pages. Fiction

Gifted musician Clemency Thompson is playing for tourists on the streets of Southern France when she receives an urgent text message. Her childhood friend, Lucy, is demanding her immediate return to London. It's happening, says the message. The baby is back. Libby Jones was only six months old when she became an orphan. Now 25, she's astounded to learn of an inheritance that will change her life. A gorgeous, dilapidated townhouse in one of London's poshest neighborhoods has been held in a trust for her all these years. Now, it's hers. As Libby investigates the story of her birth parents and the dark legacy of her new home, Clemency and Lucy are headed her way to uncover, and possibly protect, secrets of their own. What really happened in that rambling Chelsea mansion when they were children? And are they still at risk?

BW

Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders

Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders 

By Vanessa Angelica Villareal 

Tiny Reparations Books, 2024. 370 pages. Nonfiction. 

In Magical/Realism, Vanessa Angélica Villarreal offers us an intimate mosaic of migration, violence, and colonial erasure through the lens of her marriage and her experiences navigating American monoculture. As she attempts to recover the truth from the absences and silences within her life, her relationships, and those of her ancestors, Vanessa pieces together her story from the fragments of music, memory, and fantasy that have helped her make sense of it all. Each chapter is an attempt to reimagine and re-world what has been lost. In one essay, Vanessa examines the gender performativity of Nirvana and Selena; in another, she offers a radical but crucial racial reading of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones; and throughout the collection, she explores how fantasy can provide healing when grief feels insurmountable. She reflects on the moments of her life that are too painful to remember--her difficult adolescence, her role as the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, her divorce--and finds a new way to archive her history and map her future(s), one infused with the hope and joy of fantasy and magical thinking. By engaging readers in her project of rebuilding narrative, Vanessa broadens our understanding of what memoir and cultural criticism can be. Magical/Realism is a wise, tender, and essential collection that carves a path toward a new way of remembering and telling our stories. 

I loved this collection of essays! As a huge fan of fantasy, I loved seeing how she connected fictional narratives to her real-life experiences and explored how metaphorically they are similar. One of the amazing things about fiction and fantasy is how people across cultures and backgrounds can find deep connections in the same story. Vanessa is candid about her experiences and her history, it truly feels like as much of a memoir as it is an essay collection on media analysis. 

If you like Magical/Realism, you might also like: 

Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture that Raised Me 

By Aisha Harris 

Harper Collins, 2023. 280 pages. Memoir. 

In nine lively essays, critic Aisha Harris invites us into the wonderful, maddening process of making sense of the pop culture we consume. Aisha Harris has made a name for herself as someone you can turn to for a razor-sharp take on whatever show or movie everyone is talking about. Now, she turns her talents inward, mining the benchmarks of her nineties childhood and beyond to analyze the tropes that are shaping all of us, and our ability to shape them right back. In the opening essay, an interaction with Chance the Rapper prompts an investigation into the origin myth of her name. Elsewhere, Aisha traces the evolution of the "Black Friend" trope from its Twainian origins through to the heyday of the Spice Girls, teen comedies like Clueless, and sitcoms of the New Girl variety. And she examines the overlap of taste and identity in this era, rejecting the patriarchal ethos that you are what you like. Whatever the subject, sitting down with her book feels like hanging out with your smart, hilarious, pop culture-obsessed friend--and it's a delight. 

The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality 

By Amanda Montell 

Atria Books, 2024. 257 pages. Nonfiction 

'Magical thinking' can be broadly defined as the belief that one's internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: Think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain's coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven. Montell delves into a cornucopia of the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the 'Halo effect' cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger than life celebrities, to how the 'Sunk cost fallacy' can keep us in detrimental relationships long after we've realized they're not serving us. As she illuminates these concepts with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell's prevailing message is one of hope, empathy, and ultimately forgiveness for our anxiety-addled human selves. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason, Montell aims to make some sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it.

LA

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

 The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

by Beth Brower

Rhysdon Press, 2019. 107 pages. Fiction

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian's. But Emma's plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian's. Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

If you're a fan of Pride and Prejudice, you’ll definitely want to immerse yourself in The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Bower. This book is a delightful blend of clever wit and charming prose.

The novel is structured around the intriguing journals of Emma M. Lion, whose observations and experiences provide a window into her world. This is a wonderful read for those who appreciate a blend of classic charm and modern storytelling. Whether you’re in it for the character development, the witty narrative, or the unfolding mystery, this book promises a delightful literary journey. 

Luckily, the story doesn’t end on page 107. With more volumes in this series, there’s plenty of adventure and intrigue to look forward to. Just so you know, this book was also just added to our book club set collection, so grab a set and enjoy it with your friends!

If you like The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion you might also enjoy:

A Useful Women

by Darcie Wilde

Berkley Prime Crime, 2016. 357 pages. Mystery 

The daughter of a baronet and a minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who have come to rely on her wit and discretion. So when aristocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in Almack's, London's most exclusive ballroom, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack's powerful patronesses--and her own former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmaine. Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must not only unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper's death, but the mysteries of her own heart as well.

Cotillion

by Georgette Heyer

Sourcebooks, 2007. 355 pages. Romance

The three great-nephews of cantankerous Mr. Penicuik know better than to ignore his summons, especially when it concerns the bestowal of his fortune. The wily old gentleman has hatched a typically freakish plan for his stepdaughter's future and his own amusement--his fortune will be Kitty's dowry. But while the beaux are scrambling for her hand, Kitty counters with her own inventive, if daring, scheme--a sham engagement should keep wedlock at bay.

Edenbrooke; and, Heir to Edenbrooke

by Julianne Donalson

Shadow Mountain, 2017. 264 pages. Romance 

Edenbrooke: When Marianne Deventry receives an invitation to spend the summer with her twin sister in Edenbrooke, she has no idea of the romance and adventure that await her once she meets the dashing Philip Wyndham.

Heir to Edenbrooke: When Philip Wyndham's older brother dies, leaving Philip heir to Edenbrooke, he is thrust into an unexpected role as London's most sought-after bachelor; but everything changes when he meets Marianne Deventry. This novella tells much of the same story as Edenbrooke, from the point of view of Philip.

BWW

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Simon & Schuster. 2022. 359 pages. YA Fiction

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all with an unusual way of viewing the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. It is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

This beautifully written coming-of-age story is both thought-provoking and emotionally rich. The authentic portrayal of family and friendships makes it relatable. The humor woven into Aristotle’s struggles adds balance to his journey of self-discovery. For an added treat, the audiobook, narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda, brings the story to life with his unique flair.

If you like Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe you might like…

Pedro and Daniel
By Federico Levine Querido
2023. 425 pages. YA Fiction

PEDRO & DANIEL is a sweeping and deeply personal novel about two brothers who are there for each other when no one else is. Pedro and Daniel are Mexican American brothers growing up in 1970s Ohio. Their mother resents that Pedro is a spitting image of their darker-skinned father, that Daniel likes dolls, that neither boy plays sports. Life at home is rough, but the boys have an unbreakable bond that will last their entire lives. Together, the brothers manage an abusive home life, coming out, first loves, first jobs, and the AIDS pandemic, in a coming-of-age story unlike any other.

The Edge of Anything
By Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Running Press Teens, 2020. 362 pages. YA Fiction

Len is a loner teen photographer haunted by a past that's stagnated her work and left her terrified she's losing her mind. Sage is a high school volleyball star desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls need college scholarships. After a chance encounter, the two develop an unlikely friendship that enables them to begin facing their inner demons. But both Len and Sage are keeping secrets that, left hidden, could cost them everything, maybe even their lives. Set in the North Carolina mountains, The Edge of Anything explores the transformative power of friendship and how it can help you find yourself and the goodness in life, even when everything feels broken.

BWW

I Hope This Doesn't Find You

I Hope This Doesn't Find You

By Ann Liang

Scholastic Press, 2024. 309 pages. Young Adult

Channeling her frustrations into email drafts--ones that she'd never send--seemingly perfect Sadie Wen finds her carefully crafted, conflict-free life turned upside down when the email is sent out accidentally, and the only person growing to appreciate the real Sadie is the only boy she's sworn to hate.

This is a funny, high drama high school romance.  The characters are lovable and flawed, and the enemies to lovers trope is well constructed with satisfying dialogue and character interactions to support the shifting feelings.  

If you like I Hope This Doesn't Find You you might also like:

To All The Boys I've Loved Before
By Jenny Han
Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2014. 355 Pages. Young Adult

Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved and then hides them in a hatbox until one day those letters are accidentally sent.

My Mechanical Romance
By Alexene Farol Follmuth
Holiday House, 2022. 266 pages. Young Adult

Basically forced to join the robotics club due to her talent for engineering, Bel must work side-by-side with Mateo Luna, and soon the two realize they've built much more than a robot for the national championship.

RBL

The New York Times Cooking: No-Recipe Recipes

 The New York Times Cooking: No-Recipe Recipes
By Sam Sifton

Ten Speed Press, 2021. 242 pages. Nonfiction. Cookbooks

Cooking without recipes is a kitchen skill, like cutting vegetables into dice or flipping an omelet. Sifton makes improvisational cooking easy. Each recipe uses ingredients you have on hand or could pick up on a quick trip to the store.

Are you tired of the endless cycle of recipes, grocery lists, and specific ingredients? I was too. I found myself overwhelmed by the demands of finding recipes, shopping for every single item, and ended up burned out from the whole process. My kitchen was a source of stress rather than joy.

That’s where "No-Recipe Recipes" by Sam Sifton comes to the rescue. This book is a game-changer for anyone who wants to simplify their cooking without sacrificing flavor. Sifton's approach is all about harnessing the power of your pantry and using the staples you already have. As I flipped through the pages, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement at the thought of experimenting with what I had on hand.

One of the best parts? The book offers adaptable ideas for when you’re missing an ingredient, with handy suggestions for substitutions. It’s like having a cooking buddy who knows exactly what you’re working with and helps you make the most of it. This cookbook is exactly what I needed to take my no-recipe cooking to the next level and truly enjoy the freedom of the kitchen.

If you like The New York Times Cooking: No-Recipe Recipes you might also like...

Fast & easy five-ingredient recipes: a cookbook for busy people
by Philia Kelnhofer
The Country Man Press, 2016. 240 Pages. Nonfiction. Cookbook

Cooking can sometimes involve mile-long ingredient lists and require more time than one cares to spend in the kitchen after a busy day. With Fast and Easy Five Ingredient Recipes you'll find over 100 recipes that only require five ingredients (or less) and use simple ingredients in unique ways.

Good enough : a cookbook : embracing the joys of imperfection & practicing self-care in the kitchen
By Leanne Brown
Workman Publishing, 2022. 298 pages. Nonfiction. Cookbook

Good Enough is a cookbook, but it's as much about the healing process of cooking as it is about delicious recipes. It's about acknowledging the fears and anxieties many of us have when we get in the kitchen, then learning to let them go in the sensory experience of working with food. It's about slowing down, honoring the beautiful act of feeding yourself and your loved ones, and releasing the worries about whether what you've made is good enough. It is. A generous mix of essays, stories, and nearly 100 dazzling recipes, Good Enough is a deeply personal cookbook.

BWW

Sky's End

Sky’s End  

By Marc J. Gregson 

Peachtree Teen, 2024. 403 pages. Young Adult 

Exiled to live as a Low, 16-year-old Conrad refuses to become heir to his murderous uncle. But Meritocracy is a harsh and unforgiving rule on the floating island of Holmstead, and when his ailing mother is killed by monstrous gorgantauns, Conrad cuts a deal to save the only family he has left. To rescue his sister from his uncle's clutches, Conrad must enter the Selection of the Twelve Trades. Hunter, the deadliest of all the Trades, gains a fresh recruit with Conrad. Now he must endure vigorous training, manipulative peers, and the Gauntlet--a brutal final test that yields riches and status to whichever skyship crew kills the most gorgantauns. Forced to serve in the lowest of stations and unseen by all, Conrad overhears whispers of rebellion in the dark. Conrad had never known anything existed below the toxic black clouds of the Skylands... until now. 

This book has been on my to-read list for a while because of it’s multiple positive professional reviews, but by the time I’d started it I had entirely forgotten the premise so I went into this book not knowing what it was about. There was a lot of backstory in the beginning so it took a little while for me to get into it… but as soon as the action started I was sucked in. It was suspenseful, action-packed, fast-paced, had witty characters, the world was fascinating, and overall was just a fantastic read and hard for me to put down. If you like YA sci-fi/fantasy that really packs a punch and keeps you turning pages, I can’t recommend this one enough. 

If you liked Sky’s End, you might also like: 

 

Monsters Born and Made 

By Tanvi Berwah 

Sourcebooks Fire, 2022. 343 pages. Young Adult 

To ensure her family's survival, sixteen-year-old Koral cheats her way into the Glory Race, a dangerous chariot tournament using sea monsters meant for the ruling elite. 

The Sunbearer Trials  

By Aiden Thomas 

Feiwel and Friends, 2022. 405 pages. Young Adult 

Chosen to participate in The Sunbearer Trials, where the loser is sacrificed to refuel the Sun Stones, Teo, the 17-year-old trans son of the goddess of birds, must compete against more powerful and better trained opponents for fame, glory and his own survival. 

ACS