To Read or Not To Read

Josie Silver's sophomore novel is incredibly moving and a lovely story about grief, and how one learns to love again. This book is a fun and rewarding story that dives deep into the fabric of everyday life to bring an authentic cast of characters and a grief so profound right into our hearts. For anyone wanting a bittersweet and emotional read that pushes the boundaries of what a love story can be, I would recommend The Two Lives of Lydia Bird .  Josie Silver's debut novel, One Day in December , was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. Josie lives in a small town in the UK with her husband, their sons, and an everchanging cast of animals. You can find her at josiesilver.com . You can find more of my reviews of Josie's works here . Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia. They're about to wed after almost a decade in love. But then, on Lydia's twenty-eighth birthday, Freddie dies in a tragic accident....

Emily Henry's newest release is all the rage right now, and down below, I'll break down why. Not only does People We Meet on Vacation have one of the most relatable female leads in contemporary romance, but the expert combination of all of your favorite romance novel tropes creates an unputdownable read. This book is the perfect escape, a novel you will fall head-over-heels in love with, only to be devastated yet fulfilled by the end. I can't recommend this contemporary romance novel highly enough! It is definitely this summer's perfect beach read.  Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. You can find more of my reviews of Emily's works here .  Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She's a wild child; he wears khak...

I often describe my love of romance novels as one that balances out my love for young adult fantasy. I say that the high stakes of young adult fantasy (saving the world, being the chosen one, etc.) are balanced out by the usually "lower" stakes in romance novels (which I describe as two people discovering that they like each other and then figuring out how to make it work). However, Jane Igharo threw that explanation out the window with her beautiful debut Ties That Tether . A romance novel that puts culture and family on the line, Azere is a woman who knows what she wants but is still learning how to fight for it. Igharo's exploration of interracial relationships, immigrant experiences, and the importance of family are tempered by the novel's heartfelt moments and pure romance. A delightful romantic read, Ties That Tether is a wonderful novel to begin the summer! Jane Abieyuwa Igharo was born in Nigeria and immigrated to Canada at the age of twelve. She has a journal...

This book review will certainly be one in a million positive reviews for what The New York Times, USA Today, Bustle, LitHub, and more have named a Best Book of the Year. But, I of course couldn't stop myself from completely falling heads-over-heels in love with this coming-of-age slash murder mystery novel that was set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Delia Owens's first fiction novel is full not only of beautiful lyricism and a shockingly powerful story, but is full of celebrations of nature and independence and survival. With a main character you will cheer for and a murder mystery sure to keep you on your toes until the absolute last past, Where the Crawdads Sing is simply a masterpiece, and will definitely cement itself as a literary classic that audiences will continue to enjoy and honor for as long as we can enjoy novels (which, undoubtably, will be a very long time).  Delia Owens is the coauthor of three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as...

In this shocking and satisfying conclusion to  Night Spinner , faith and determination collide in the battle to end all wars. Addie Thorley crafts a sequel whose ending will stun you. With a specific focus on character development and diving deeper into the implications of belief, Thorley's Sky Breaker not only perfectly resolves with worlds of Ashkar and Zemya, but will leave readers with a sense of hopefulness and belief in the power of faith and humankind.  Addie Thorley is the author of An Affair of Poisons  and Night Spinner . She spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, she decided "hard news" didn't contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. When she's not writing, she can be found gallivanting in the woods and eating cookies. She currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, dau...