Friends and Strangers tells the story of two women at a crossroads in their life. Sam, a senior at an all girls college, has signed on to babysit Elisabeth's baby, Gil, part-time. The women indulge in a quick friendship, relying on one another for honest insight as Sam prepares to adjust to a new more grown up life outside of college and Elisabeth adjusts to her new life in a small town. Both women, however, find themselves dealing with personal demons, elitism and privilege.
Sullivan's latest novel comes from the point of view of both women, telling a relatable coming-of-age story with decisions and situations from two separate points in a person's life. She does such a spectacular job drawing you into the lives of Sam and Elisabeth that you feel like you know them personally. I had a hard time letting go of this novel, so much so that I found myself up at all hours to finish it! An easy and insightful read, Sullivan fans will not be disappointed.
In Blood Heir, Zhao has created a fantastical world where people called Affinites have the ability to control the world around them. In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are considered to be dangerous, unnatural, and touched by demons. Ana, the crown princess, has the Affinity to control blood, which is a monstrous gift even to other Affinities. After her power is revealed as child, Ana is hidden away in the palace and the kingdom is told that she is ill. But when the emperor is killed and Ana is framed for his murder, she must flee her home and find the true murderer to clear her name. After nearly a year of searching, Ana grows desperate and goes to Ramson Quicktongue, one of the most corrupt and cunning crime lords in Cyrilia. However, Ramson may have met his match in Ana. As they unravel the secret to the conspiracy behind the emperor’s death they realize that it was a lot worse than they ever imagined.
Blood Heir is a fast read because you won’t want to put it down. Zhao has designed a world that is fascinating to read about, including the abilities of the Affinites and the way they are hated just because they are different, which mirrors our own world. The characters are ones you will come to both love and hate, with depths to their personalities. None are perfect, but the ones you’ll come to love are learning and trying to make the world they live in a better place.
Bookshelves are awash with advice for those wishing to organize their living spaces. Techniques vary from no-nonsense clutter-busting to thanking and discarding items that no longer spark joy. Anyone who has had to clear out a relative's home will understand the practicality of the Swedish concept of death cleaning: the organizing of one's worldly goods before passing away. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning serves as a friendly guide to undertaking this admittedly gloomy-sounding project at any stage of life.
Making the book as much a memoir as motivation, Swedish artist Margareta Magnusson illustrates the process by describing her own death cleaning practices, including charming stories about her possessions. Her eventual decision to sell a beloved family sailboat is somehow both sentimental and pragmatic. She concludes that its value lay in happy memories, not in the physical object, which should go on to delight another family, rather than sit unused in storage.
A quick read, this is a warm and humorous approach to tidying that combines the life-changing magic of Marie Kondo with the cozy simplicity of Scandinavian hygge.
Kristen is a fierce, loyal, smart, funny, and driven woman who makes life decisions based on logic, not feelings. When she meets Josh, the best man in her best friend’s wedding, she tries to use logic to keep their relationship strictly platonic, even though she’s never felt this way about anyone in her life-- not even her boyfriend (who is overseas in the military). However, wearing her ugliest clothes, no makeup, and forgoing a hairbrush for days doesn’t stop Josh from thinking she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever met. As a veteran, Josh respects Kristen's boyfriend and doesn’t act on his feelings-- at least not until he breaks up with her through a voicemail telling her he re-enlisted.
Without the boyfriend in between them, they can no longer resist each other. But Kristen has health issues and a secret surgery that will make it impossible for her to have children, the one thing that Josh has made clear is a deal-breaker for him. He wants an entire sports team full of his own kids, and that’s the one thing Kristen can’t give him. No matter how much Kristen loves him, she knows she can’t deny him his dreams and pushes him away. To Josh, however, he doesn’t want a family if he can’t have it with Kristen.
This is a fantastic rom-com that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next as you deal with Kristen’s infertility issues with her.
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Just when she thought things were finally moving in the relationship direction, Millie Quint finds her best friend/almost girlfriend kissing someone else. Faced with spending her senior year in a completely awkward place, Millie decides to apply to boarding school… in Scotland. Where her roommate turns out to be an actual princess.
An enemy-to-lovers, will-they-won’t-they story with the added benefits of rebel royal teenagers and beautiful Scottish scenery. Will Millie and Princess Flora find love at boarding school, or will they kill each other during a school-wide camping challenge? If you’re looking for an easy, fun read and you loved Red, White and Royal Blue, this is the book for you!
A.J. Jacobs found himself feeling petty and angry more often than grateful and content. So being the "human guinea pig" that he is, he decided to embark on a gratitude experiment to try to be more appreciative of the little things in his life. He started with his morning cup of coffee.
He decided to try to thank everyone who made his cup of coffee possible, from the baristas to the water sanitation workers to the coffee cup lid designers to the South American farmers. Altogether, he makes it his mission to thank one thousand people who contributed in some way to his daily cup of coffee.
This is an uplifting book that narrowly skirts coming off as cloying. By honestly contemplating whether the thank-ees appreciate his words or see them as a waste of their time, and by consulting experts about the difference between gratitude and complacency, he manages to keep the book on level ground. It's a quick read with a heartfelt premise, perfect for if you're looking for a sense of connection in this tumultuous time.
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Published in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, this collection of short stories is sure to delight any fan of the Star Wars saga.
Forty stories, each written by a different author, follow the action of that first movie, but from the perspective of observers. Aliens, androids, stormtroopers, and even a few beloved characters share their small role as witnesses to the greater action. Ever wonder what the Han/Greedo showdown looked like to the cantina band? Want to get the backstory on that tentacled creature in the trash compactor? Curious about the paperwork required to keep a planet destroying battle station running? This is the place to find the answers.
Written by a variety of celebrated authors, actors, and artists, these quick, enjoyable reads range from humorous to heroic to heartbreaking; perfect for dipping into and out of while awaiting the next season of The Mandalorian.
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