To Read or Not To Read

The perfect summer read, I fell in love with Nora Goes Off Script . Romantic, warm, and smart, Monaghan crafted a story that's just as dreamy as it is realistic, an ode to falling in love in real life.  Annabel Monaghan is the author of two young adult novels and Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big? , a selection of laugh-out-loud columns that appeared in The Huffington Post , The Week , and The Rye Record . Nora Goes Off Script is her adult debut novel. She lives in Rye, New York, with her family. You can find her online at AnnabelMonaghan.com or on social media @AnnabelMonaghan. You can find more of my reviews of Annabel's works here .  Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it's her job. But then her too-good-to-work husband leaves her and their two kids, and Nora turns her marriage's collapse into cash, writing the best script of her life. When the script is picked up for the big screen and set to film at h...

Georgie, All Along is the book I've been craving! Achingly sweet and delightfully real, Clayborn balances a dual POV romance with grace and precision. Georgie's and Levi's stories are complemented by the arcs of side characters, creating a world that feels bigger than itself, and thus a novel that is all the better for its expansive feeling.  Kate Clayborn is the critically acclaimed author of contemporary romance novels. Her work has appeared in The New York Times , The Washington Post , Oprah Magazine , Entertainment Weekly , Bookpage , and more. By day she works in education, and by night (and sometimes, by very early morning) she writes contemporary romances about smart, strong, modern heroines who face the world alongside true friends and complicated families. She resides in Virginia with her husband and their dog.  Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hec...

The fourth and final book in Sonali Dev's The Rajes series is an Emma retelling, following the youngest Raje son, Vansh, and the spurned ex of the oldest Raje son, Naina. While an interesting take on Austen's much-contested classic, The Emma Project unfortunately falls flat for me.  USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore issues faced by women around the world. Her novels have been named Best Books of the Year by Library Journal , NPR, the Washington Post , and Kirkus Reviews . She has won the American Library Association's award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary romance, and multiple RT Seals of Excellence. She is a RITA finalist and has been listed for the Dublin Literary Award. Shelf Awareness calls her "Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today." She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, two visiting adult children, and the world's mos...

A fast-paced, entertaining, and innovative read, Kirstin Chenn's Counterfeit  is more than just a con artist story. It's also a deeper examination of the American Dream and the deluxe goods industry, making this novel subversive and the only one of its kind I've had the pleasure of reading. Kirstin Chen is the author of Soy Sauce for Beginners  and Bury What We Cannot Take . Born and raised in Singapore, she currently lives in San Francisco.  Ava Wong has always played it safe. As a strait-laced, rule abiding Chinese American lawyer with a successful surgeon husband, a young son, and a beautiful home—she's built the perfect life. But beneath this facade, Ava's world is crumbling: her marriage is falling apart, her expensive law degree hasn't been used in years, and her toddler's tantrums are pushing her to the breaking point. Enter Winnie Fang, Ava's enigmatic college roommate from Mainland China, who abruptly dropped out under mysterious circumstances. ...

Crying in H Mart is all of the adjectives everyone is using to describe it: heartbreaking, indelible, moving. With the precision of a musician, Zauner brings the story of her twenty-fifth year to life. Searing in its lyricism, Zauner's detailed prose is accessible for every reader, creating a novel that is a universal study of grief.   Michelle Zauner is best known as a singer and guitarist who creates dreamy, shoegaze-inspired indie pop under the name Japanese Breakfast. She has won acclaim from major music outlets around the world for releases like Psychopomp  (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017). Her memoir, Crying in H Mart , was released in 2021.  When Michelle Zauner, the indie rock musician known as Japanese Breakfast, was in her mid-twenties, working as a waitress and struggling to launch her music career in Philadelphia, she got a call that her mother was ill. She put her life on hold and flew home to Eugene, Oregon, to be with her mother throug...

Vintage Contemporaries  is not quite the lighthearted read I'd expected based on the cover, or the searing read I'd expected based on the book description. It falls somewhere in the middle, and for this reason and the ones I detail below, I would recommend skipping over adding this one to your TBR.  Dan Kois is the author of three nonfiction books: How to Be a Family , a memoir; The World Only Spins Forward , an oral history of Tony Kushner's Angels in America  (with Isaac Butler); and Facing Future , part of the 33 1/3 series of music criticism. He's a longtime writer, editor, and podcaster at Slate . He lives in Arlington, Virginia with his family.  It's 1991. Em moved to New York City for excitement and possibility, but the big city isn't quite what she thought it would be. Working as a literary agent's assistant, she's down to her last nineteen dollars but has made two close friends: Emily, a firebrand theater director living in a Lower East Side squ...

One of the best books I've read all year, Mika in Real Life has it all: a searing exploration of self, an honest depiction of motherhood, and a sweet romance tied up with complications, Emiko Jean's stunning novel is a must-read for everyone, no matter what you're looking to read next.  When Emiko Jean isn't writing, she is reading. Before she became a writer, she was an entomologist, a candle maker, a florist, and, most recently, a teacher. She lives in Washington with her husband and children. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After, Empress of All Seasons , and We'll Never Be Apart .  At thirty-five, Mika Suzuki's life is a mess. Her last relationship ended in flames. Her roommate-slash-best friend might be a hoarder. She's a perpetual disappointment to her traditional Japanese parents. And, most recently, she's been fired from her latest dead-end job. Mika is at her lowest point when she receives a phone call from Penny—the d...

R. F. Kuang ventures where no one has before with Yellowface —a searing examination of the publishing industry, white privilege, and social media, June's immersive first-person voice pulls you into the novel and won't let you go until the haunting final page. I devoured this book, and if you're looking for your next sharp and addicting read, then you should pick this one up next.  Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award-nominated author of the Poppy War trilogy and the #1 New York Times bestselling Babel . She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale. You can find her online at rfkuang.com. You can find more of my reviews of Kuang's work here .  Authors Jane Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena's a literary darling. June Hayward is l...

And my last (for now!) read off of TIME's list—and one of the most emotional yet. Traci Chee tells the stories of 14 Nisei, or second-generation Japanese American citizens, during World War II. Each story is packed full of emotion, heart, and soul, exposing the cruelty these children and thousands of others experienced at the hands of white Americans during this point in history. These are the stories America wants to hide from the history books (shocker), and Chee shows us exactly why these stories need to be told and shared.  Traci Chee is a New York Times  bestselling author of the YA fantasy trilogy The Reader , The Speaker , and The Storyteller . In  We Are Not Free , Chee changes gears and pulls from her own family history, creating a stunning and evocative novel that resonates deeply against today's tumultuous political backdrop. An all-around word geek, she loves book arts and art books, poetry and paper crafts, though she also dabbles at egg painting, bonsai gard...

I like to read other Goodreads reviews while I figure out exactly what I want to say for mine, and the ones for this one all seem to have something in common—"Wow." That word absolutely describes the important, incredible, heartbreaking and yet somehow hopeful story between the pages of Abdi Nazemian's Like a Love Story . A historical fiction novel of three teens coming of age during the AIDS crisis, this story is necessary in shining a light on that period of our history, while also equally examining the horrors of growing up in general. Abdi Nazemian is the author of The Authentics . His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films like The Artist's Wife, The Quiet , and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the NBC television series The Village . He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods , and The House of Tomorrow . He...

What an enchanting read! Pun intended. Ella Enchanted is humorous and entertaining, with a strong-willed female main character and a fun story, all combining for an overall enjoyable reading experience.  Gail Carson Levine's first book for children, Ella Enchanted , was a Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Ever , a New York Times  bestseller; Fairest , a Best Book of the Year for Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal  and a New York Times  bestseller; Dave at Night , an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish ; the Two Princesses of Bamarre ; A Tale of Two Castles ; Stolen Magic ; The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre ; Ogre Enchanted ; A Ceiling Made of Eggshells;  and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly  and Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink , as well as the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf and Betsy Red Hoodie . Gail and her husband, David, ...

I have officially read 50 out of 100 books from TIME's Top YA Books of All Time List, and I couldn't be happier that this halfway point is marked by Kwame Alexander's The Crossover . An incredibly moving novel in verse, the story of Josh and Jordan Bell is about more than just basketball—it's a testament to the power of brotherhood, and the turning points in growing up.  Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five books, including Rebound , the follow-up to his Newbery medal0winning middle grade novel, The Crossover . Some of his other books include Booked , which was longlisted for the National Book Award, The Playbook: 52 Rules to Help You Aim, Shoot, and Score in this Game of Life, Swing, and the picture books Out of Wonder  and The Undefeated , which was longlisted for the National Book Award and won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. A regular contributor to...

Walter Dean Myers's Monster  is an engaging and ambiguous read. One that resonates startlingly strong in today's day and age, this novel is a quick yet unforgettable read.  Walter Dean Myers was the New York Times bestselling author of Monster , the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award; a former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature; and an inaugural NYC Literary Honoree. Myers received every single major award in the field of children's literature. He was the author of two Newberry Honor Books and six Coretta Scott King Awardees. He was the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults, a three-time National Book Award Finalist, as well as the first-ever recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Find more of my reviews of books on TIME's Top 100 YA Books of All Time list  here .  This New York Times bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Mye...

Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Allegedly. And it's that allegedly  that will get you hooked on reading Tiffany D. Jackson's debut novel, but Mary's voice that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and her master of arts in media studies from the New School. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable Chihuahua, Oscar, most likely multitasking. You can find her online at www.writeinbk.com . You can find more of my reviews of TIME Top 100 YA Novels of All Time  here .  Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Allegedly. She didn't say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-y...

Weetzie Bat is a really quick and entertaining read. A coming of age story that follows Weetzie and her best friends as they grow up. Francesca Lia Block writes beautifully, however I felt like there was a lot left on the table for the story. Francesca Lia Block is the acclaimed author of the Los Angeles Times bestsellers GUARDING THE MOON: A Mother's First Year, THE ROSE AND THE BEAT, VIOLET & CLAIRE, and DANGEROUS ANGELS: The Weetzie Bat Books ; as well as BEAUTIFUL BOYS, GOAT GIRLS, WASTELAND, ECHO, I WAS A TEENAGE FAIRY, GIRL GODDESS #9: Nine Stories  and THE HANGED MAN. Her work is published around the world. You can find more of my reviews of books from TIME's Best YA Books of All Time  here .  Francesca Lia Block's dazzling debut novel, Weetzie Bat , is not only a genre-shattering, critically acclaimed gem, it's also widely recognized as a classic of young adult literature, having captivated readers for generations. This coming-of-age novel follows the eponym...

As I continue to read through TIME's Best YA Books of All Time, I picked up  Angus, thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging for a quick and entertaining read. It is certainly both of those things, and seems like a great read for young girls, as it captures the essence of what it's like to become a teenager. Louise Rennison is the bestselling and award-winning author of the angst-filled Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Louise lives in Brighton, the San Francisco of England (apart from the sun, Americans, the Golden Gate Bridge, and earthquakes). You can visit Georgia online at www.georgianicolson.com . You can find more of my reviews of books from TIME's Best YA Books of All Time  here .  Angus: My mixed-breed cat, half domestic tabby, half Scottish wildcat. The size of a small Labrador, only mad. Thongs: Stupid underwear. What's the point of them, anyway? They just go up your bum, as far as I can tell. Full-Frontal Snogging: Kissing with all the trimmings, lip to lip, open mou...

My journey through TIME's Best YA Books of All Time continues with Ursula K. Le Guin's classic A Wizard of Earthsea . As much as I tried to love this book, I am unhappy to report that I couldn't, for reasons that I detail below. However, more than anything, I wish I had read this when I was younger, as I feel like I would have truly enjoyed it more as a kid than as an adult.  Ursula K. Le Guin was born in Berkeley, California, in 1929, and passed away in Portland, Oregon in 2018. She published over sixty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, children's literature, and translation. She was the recipient of a National Book Award, six Hugo and five Nebula awards, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Visit her website at UrsulaKLeGuin.com . You can find more of my reviews of books from TIME's Best YA Books of All Time  here .  Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for ...

Joanna Ho's young adult debut is not to be missed. A heart-wrenching novel that dives deeply into mental health, racism, and privilege, this story examines the silence that accompanies all of these difficult topics. Blending prose with poetry and text messages and everything in between that accompanies being a young adult in the contemporary age, I would be surprised if this book wasn't on TIME's Top 100 YA Books of All Time in the future.  Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners , Eyes that Speak to the Stars, and Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma . She has been an English teacher, a dean, a professional development mastermind, and a high school vice principal. Her passion for equity in books and education is matched only by her love of homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids. Visit her at www.joannahowrites.com.  Maybelline Chen isn't the Chinese Taiwanese American daught...

Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker (born February 9, 1944) is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and social activist. In 1982, she became the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, which she was awarded for her novel The Color Purple . Over the span of her career, Walker has published seventeen novels and short story collections, twelve non-fiction works, and collections of essays and poetry.  Below, find the best quotes from  The Color Purple  and corresponding page numbers! I utilize my own editions (which match the cover images used below), but regardless, the quotes will appear in order of whichever text you use.  The Color Purple (1982) She ast me bout the first one Whose it is? I say God's. I don't know no other man or what else to say. page 2 She say, All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men. Bu...