Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens sees the long foretold coming of the Antichrist, which is a big problem, not just for all the people caught in the way of Armageddon, but for the angel Aziraphale, and the demon Crowley, Heaven and Hell’s representatives on the mortal plane. Both have grown rather accustomed to the comforts of the world, and, scheming together, they hatch a plot to stop the end of the world.
There’s a reason this novel makes so many lists of "must read" or, more appropriately, "must listen to" books. The writing in it is wonderful, with colorful characters, hilarious quips, and fantastic imaginings of apocalyptic entities. One would not think of the four horsemen as being fun or funny people, but these writers manage it somehow. It’s not terribly long, either, so, if you have an afternoon, give it a listen! It was also recently turned into an excellent TV miniseries by Amazon and the BBC.
Sophie Beckett, an illegitimate daughter of an earl, plays servant to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. One night, Sophie sneaks out to attend a masquerade ball at the house of the Bridgertons, a wealthy, popular family within London society. When she meets Benedict Bridgerton, they quickly become enchanted with one another during the magical evening. But when the clock strikes midnight, Sophie disappears, leaving Benedict with no clue what she looks like or who she is.
After many seasons of tiresome London balls, Benedict is immediately captivated by Sophie’s charm and her mysterious demeanor. Determined to find her and vowing to marry no other, he searches all of London-- to no avail. When he begins to develop a romantic relationship with Sophie the maid, he struggles between his vow and knowing he can never actually marry a servant. Sophie, refusing to compromise her principles, struggles between keeping her identity a secret and avoiding her stepmother, who is determined to make her life miserable.
A retelling of Cinderella, Sophie and Benedict’s story is full of passion and longing making for an exciting and sympathetic tale. It is the third book and easily my favorite of the Bridgerton series, although it can also serve as a standalone Regency romance. The Bridgertons have also been adapted into a Netflix series with producer Shonda Rhimes. It is expected to launch sometime in 2020!
Clendenin Hughes was supposed to be Dabney’s one true love, but his dreams of exploring the world outside their Nantucket home compelled Dabney to let him go. Now over twenty years later, he's back, but Dabney has moved on with her life. She’s married, running the chamber of commerce, and seemingly happy with her days. What does his presence mean? Will she respond to his repeated attempts to meet up? And what about their daughter, Agnes, whom he never met? Will he now want to be a part of her life?
Elin Hilderbrand has written an emotionally stirring story that is hard to put down. Fans of Jodi Picoult or Mary Kay Andrews should give this one a try.
Nora is just like any other woman in her mid-twenties. She works a job she hates, hangs out with friends, and has been through more bad relationships than she can count. She perhaps finds her true love in the most unlikeliest of places: a literal 500 pound American black bear who, after scaring her in the woods, returns something she dropped. Kind, considerate, big, and fuzzy, she must convince her friends, family, and even herself, that this is more than just an extreme rebound: it’s true love.
Calling Ribon’s book an oddball comedy-romance would be doing it a serious disservice. Nora and “The Bear” (as he is always called) do normal couple things: get dressed up, go on dates, hang out with friends, go to parties etc. Their relationship has ups and downs, twists and turns, and doubts from both about the validity of their potential together. Except, The Bear is a bear. The book never tries to hide this fact, nor does anyone doubt what he is. Most of the comedy comes from the sheer absurdity of this as we watch The Bear get a job to support himself and Nora, but we also see him comfort Nora after her cat dies.
There’s some real quality insight into not letting others opinions stop you from living your best life, and living life for yourself even if that means not being with the people you care about the most. If you can bear the odd imagery, this book is a fun little story with plenty of cute to satisfy.
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.
