The author of “Maid” has done it again. Land follows themes of unplanned pregnancy, security, stability, and sacrifice. I found myself really feeling her anxiety and frustration as she struggled with a nonviable system and tried to survive. Her ability to push through every obstacle was so encouraging. This is a beautiful book that really vibrantly portrays the reality many of us live and few acknowledge.
-Faith
Set in 1884, “What the River Knows” follows the adventures of Inez, a young woman from Argentina wanting to claim her inheritance and unveil the truth of her family. Ibañez wrote a dazzling adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and romance. The storytelling brought the atmosphere to life. Ancient Egypt, mystery, magic, adventure… What more could you want?
-Faith
This story follows Lara Jean as she struggles with her relationships with her older sister and her past loves. It has so many levels, yes it is a "love story," but it also focuses on the relationship between sisters and family. I really, really enjoyed this, and when I read the last page - I actually got angry because I wanted more. I really hope this is a series.
-Faith
I adored this fantastic sci-fi experience. The mind bending, intelligent world building and perfectly crafted characterization blew my mind! Klune is a master of queer representation in stories. Rather than feeling like a tacked-on element, it's organic and an essential aspect of the overall tale. It’s a lovely combination of Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E with Pinocchio vibes!
-Faith
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants (Paperback)
The author wonderfully intertwines science with marvelous tales of the indigenous people. You can read the book just for these tales, to learn scientific detail of flora and fauna (ex. pecans, cattails, salamanders, maples and of course sweetgrass), or for inspiration. She is a single mother who has raised her kids alone, and what a fantastic job she has done! She remains humble, and to top it all off she writes beautifully.
-Faith
At its core “Girlfriend on Mars” is a story about love. It follows two main characters who are in a long-term relationship, but it is much more complex than that, with many current themes intertwined. It felt relevant, at times quite funny, and also heartbreaking. Plus, I really enjoyed learning interesting tidbits about Mars and space travel!
-Faith
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In “Have I Told You This Already?” Lauren tells us some fun stories about celebrity encounters she's had, reveals a few Hollywood secrets, and much more! The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it's just too short. I could listen to her talk for hours! (Oh yes, I listened to the audiobook, which she narrates, and I highly recommend it).
-Faith
With its beautiful prose, charming story, realistic and compelling characters Little Women is a complete work in itself and I couldn’t help but fall in love with it deeply and dearly. Alcott weaves a charming story with an honest account of human characters and relationships. This approach sincerely done has captured the hearts of millions of readers across the globe and throughout centuries to become one of the most enduring classics.
-Faith
“Daisy Jones & the Six” is so unique, edgy, sexy, daring, and raw. Reid creates an exceptionally vivid atmosphere for her readers through a series of interview script, which caused me to spend 20-minutes on a Google search to see if the characters mentioned were real. It’s everything I could want and hope for from a story about a rock ’n roll band.
-Faith
Maggie Banks is new to Bell River, where she must manage a bookstore while her sister is on maternity leave. However, Cobblestone Books is unofficially ruled by the local literary society, who only permits the bookstore to sell classics. What hoops will Maggie jump through to make her new friends and customers happy? This book is filled with addictive adventure and heartfelt relationships.
-Faith
This book is swoony, a little spicy, sweet, and sapphic, which is the perfect combination for romance lovers. Cochrun wrote such a magnificent story between not just two people, but many other people who gave so much hope and love to our main character Ellie.
-Faith
In the heart of Greenwich Village, three women form an accidental sorority when a baby lands on their collective doorstep. It’s such a delicious novel, which hit my own sweet spot effortlessly. This is not flimsy or heavy, but light and humorous. I highly enjoyed this laugh out loud, feel good story about friendship, parenting, life, and love.
-Faith
This book has character! Told through 12 job applications, counselor sessions, and even rent accounts, one gets to know Cara Romero and her strong opinions as she looks for a job after being laid-off from a factory. She is honest about her relationships with her neighbors, family, and son while also slowly acknowledging her faults. One begins to see how much unpaid labor is undervalued, despite its importance in family and community relationships. Cara is so flawed, but she's a character that will be remembered. It was funny, heartbreaking, and dramatic. I seriously wanted to be her friend.
-Faith
Oh boy: It is absolutely impossible not to love this book. It’s the perfect read for fantasy lovers who are keen on resilient, tough heroines, forbidden love stories with a touch of magic, action packed chapters, and mesmerizing Latin culture. Zarela Zalvidar is the daughter of Hispalia's most famous Dragonador, basically a matador but for dragons. Her mother was killed by a dragon a year earlier and now, a year later, their other dragons escape their cages during a fight and wreak havoc on the arena, killing a bunch of spectators and wounding Zarela's father. In order to save her home and arena, and keep bringing in paying spectators while her father is injured, she has to learn to fight dragons herself, which means employing the help of a grumpy, sullen, mysterious, and of course super-hot Dragonador trainer. I would rate this book 4.5/5 stars for the dragon lady who should be a winner of “Dancing with the Stars!”
-Faith
This beautiful debut coming-of-age drama keeps a focus on community, the land, and all the ways we love. I absolutely love that it’s filled with tumultuous twists and turns, but is inherently the journey of Lou grasping her sexual identity and her Métis heritage! I was really impressed with the writing style! Ferguson explores the nuances of how we betray those we care about in her novel. Are lies premeditated? Are they for survival? Are they omissions? The MC, Lou, struggles with leaving behind her past untruths while trying to be more honest with her family and friends. Lou is a fully formed character whose flaws are eye opening and relatable at the same time. Definitely worth the read, as long as you don’t mind ice cream cravings!
-Faith
All I can say is, wow. Immediately following my completion of Verity, I laid on my couch just frozen for an hour. All I could think was, “they need to make this into a movie.” The characters were all so well done that I could easily envision them in my head. I’m not normally a suspense/thriller reader, but this book has certainly changed that for me. How did Colleen Hoover ever think up this dark and twisted tale? It is so unique, so completely shocking. I love Hoover’s writing style, as well. Pick this up and expect that you probably won’t be able to put it down until you’re done.
-Faith
This was a book that broke my heart and then stitched it back together. Lily Bloom runs a flower shop; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. After they get together on a rooftop in Boston, the plot takes a dark turn. Lily swore that she’d never end up in an abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show red flags, Lily learns how hard it is to say goodbye. This book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse, and the strength of its survivors. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that walks us through Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
-Faith
Monique Grant is an introvert, a writer for Vivant – a top magazine platform, and is going through life without truly living. That is, until she’s specifically requested by Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn wants to write a book about Monique’s life story. The same actress who was married not once or even twice, but SEVEN times. What made Evelyn choose Monique? Will it change her life forever? I devoured this entire book and felt I was experiencing love, loss, and fame right alongside Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn is a character that I won’t be able to get out of my head for a long time.
-Faith
This is a wonderful self-reflection. Binding today's political views to the views which were evident during her childhood in the 1940s and 50s, Allende covers topics such as masculinity and the feminist movement in a most compelling manner. This book speaks to what feeds the soul of feminists - and all women today. It concludes that they are to be safe and valued, to live in peace, to have control over their bodies and lives, and above all else, to be loved. Learning about how inequality truly infuriated the author, Isabel Allende, all the way throughout her life, fascinated me and I guarantee will inspire you.
-Faith
The love of Katie Wilkinson's life, Matt, disappears with no explanation and Katie is left wondering what went wrong when things were so perfect between them. Then Katie finds a package on the front door step, which turns out to be a diary left by Matt. Matt left a note with the diary that says, "If you have the heart, read it. It's about my wife and my son and me." And so, Katie begins to read the diary and finds out so much more about Matt than she could ever imagine. At times whilst reading the diary Katie is overwhelmed with what she reads and learns about Matt's life. Although this story is heart wrenching, touching, and at times quite sad, it was still a beautiful love story. I have no hesitation recommending this page turner, just don't forget to have a box of tissues ready.
-Faith
