Book Recommendations

What I loved: High concept fantasy where the main character from “our” world wakes up in the kingdom of her favorite fantasy series. Loved: concept, TWISTS, complexity. Warning: cliffhanger ending!

What I loved: Even if you aren’t a huge fan of magic, you’ll love this hug of a novel. Also loved: sentient house! Different kinds of magic out in the open, lovely characters

What I loved: YA from POV of four friends just starting high school and worried about their friendship falling apart Loved: diversity, book club (w/list of books at the end!), real issues in real friendships

What I loved: Essentially more of a “personal journey”story, but the friendship aspect is fundamentally important. Also loved: diversity, disability rep, humor

What I loved: YA that isn’t quite a romance, but has the feel of one. Also loved: socioeconomic issues, mature (and refreshing) take on future step-sibling relationships, great friendships

What I loved: Great romance concept >> male love interest hit (accidentally, car) and killed the female love interest’s sister many years earlier. WHOA. Also loved: literary and screenwriting insights

What I loved: There’s not a single O’Leary novel I haven’t loved, and obviously this most recent of hers holds my same love. All I’m going to say is that it carries the same vibe as one of her other masterfully structured novels, and I want to write like her when I grow up.

What I loved: This book has been compared to Remarkably Bright Creatures and it’s not a wrong comparison. Carla, the main character, is a little rougher around the edges, but it’s easy to learn why and be full of compassion for her. Great supporting cast of characters and much to love about saving a pod of whales.

What I loved: Densie is one of my critique partners, so you know I’m going to love her story. She writes bittersweet stories, and this one is no different, but I know you’ll love the journey and how it ends. Plus, it includes a love story with a musician, and maybe you’re a sucker for those stories as much as I am.

What I loved: It’s rare that I recommend a nonfiction book because as much as I wish I loved reading nonfiction, it simply doesn’t hold my attention like fiction does. So that says something about a book if it’s showing up here. As an oral history, I chose to listen to it instead of read it and the editor did a nice job of it. I recommend this book because I think we have a younger generation that will benefit from learning about (or being reminded of) how hard things used to be and how much better our society is now (even if it is regressing at a terrifying rate) for our genderqueer population. And, of course, how far there is still to go. This book has some amazing stories. Truly.

What I loved: I wish I could remember how I heard about this one, but I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s a cozy mystery set in a college town and the character is wicked smart and I hope it will be part of a series. Daphne is a character you will always root for along with her best friends, parents, and green flag love interest.

What I loved:  While Mandanna has YA and MG books that I’ll need to read in the future, her first adult novel, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, captured my heart. Both that one and Innkeeping are full of kindness and compassion and love with a lovely, diverse cast of characters. And magic! The audiobooks are perfect.

What I loved: cozy mystery, great ensemble cast, a little romance, series potential

What I loved: all the colorful characters, multi–layered drama, magical realism, a lot of laughs

What I loved: continual questions about “what happened,” dystopia, survivalism, all-female cast, exploration of relationships in isolation

What I loved: dual timeline, mother-daughter relationship, social justice, racial justice, layered issues

What I Loved: (note: this is non-fiction) travel inspiration, heartwarming reflections on travel, marriage, family, and life

What I Loved: as always-real issues facing each protagonist, dual POV, tropey yet not contrived, clever twist, unique setting/external conflict

What I Loved: it’s like a Hallmark romance, but better, small town-but not cheesy, full cast of BIPOC characters, a unique small town concept

What I Loved: multi-generational, multi-POV, mother-daughter relationships, loyalty, love

What I Loved: family find their way back to one another, misconceptions, sisters, distinct personalities, all the emotions

What I Loved: dual timeline, multi-POV (SO well executed), secrets, tangly interpersonal relationships, all the emotions

What I loved about it: second-time around romance, multi-POV, great chemistry, authentic personal issues, great character twist

What I loved about it: Lovely characters, emotionally engaging, gentle storytelling, found family (in all the ways)

What I loved about it: dual POV of two women in very different circumstances, protagonists that I 100% rooted for the entire time, a difficult history, yet an important one with a hopeful ending

What I loved about it: Fanfiction for Jim from Huckleberry Finn, code-switching at its finest, great characters and characterization, skillful writing to ease the reader into painful history (which is probably very white of me to say, I admit–yet I still valued it)

What I loved about it: Multi-POV, coming-out story in more than one way, complex family dynamics, a family you’ll love

What I loved about it: stories within stories, magical children, quirky characters, found family, love, compassion, and acceptance

What I loved about it: multi-POV and multi-generational, political activism backdrop, complex characters, immersive writing

What I loved: intense dive into the world of sex trafficking (okay, I don’t love sex trafficking, obviously, but I loved Lore’s ability to snake us into the trappings and better understand the world), a protagonist caught, who also knows what she needs to do, intrigue

What I loved about it: magical children, quirky characters, found family, love, compassion, and acceptance

What I loved about it: Deaf culture, a touch of mystery/secrets, historical tidbits share throughout, multi-faceted issues and characters

Click here to read a discussion board about this book from the characters of All I'm Asking!

What I loved about it: a look inside Lipan Apache culture, an alternate universe (same Earth, but supernatural beings exist without question), realistic fantasy, asexual rep, strong family and friendship relationships

What I loved about it: ghosts without it being a "scary" book, a protagonist who knew her own mind and what she wanted, mystery

Click here to read a discussion board about this book from the characters of All I'm Asking!

Click here to read a discussion board about this book from the characters of All I'm Asking!

Click here to read a discussion board about this book from the characters of All I'm Asking!

Click here to read a discussion board about this book from the characters of All I'm Asking!

What I loved about it: beautiful Alaska setting, rich details for ranch life, multi-POV, mystery/intrigue, complex characters and best of all, a kickass protagonist you can totally root for

What I loved about it: a female protagonist who had doubts about herself at times, but mostly, she knew her own mind, plus-sized protagonist, fun juxtaposition of the tech and fashion worlds, great secondary characters, authentic plot and characterization

What I loved about it: dual timeline (but same character), the setting location (Karachi, Pakistan), secrets with a great, unique angle, and the characters who are strong, compassionate, and layered

What I loved about it: Second act story, authentic look at grief and mental health, JFK Jr.'s ghost!

What I loved about it: Author MC, character (Tex) who seems to have come to life (interactions with him are a hoot), great friendship, sexy romantic interest

What I loved about it: website tagline: a funny story about angry women, laugh out loud lines and situations, highly relatable, themes of learning to be an ally, Incredible Hulk, except better, female friendships, mother-daughter relationship

What I loved about it: An adult novel of Acevedo’s! What could be better?, multigenerational stories, broad diversity of personalities and lifestyle impact, magical realism, Dominican culture, characters with agency, family relationships

What I loved about it: excellent narration by the audiobook narrator, a family road trip, sixth sense sort of vibe, great pacing as the story unravels the secrets/unknowns

What I loved about it: it’s a bit over the top, a somewhat unique setting/situation, kind characters, animals!

What I loved about it: queer, “older” characters, romance. If you love Hallmark movies and always wished they were queer, this book is for you!

What I loved about it: clever, witty voice, quirky characters, but also a sensitive touch on death and grief with a focus on Canada’s assisted dying laws

What I loved about it: Space opera, aliens!, queer aliens!, adventure, some interesting science that seems sound, overall inclusive with extremely likable characters

What I loved about it: Written in verse, both main characters are trans, emotional juxtaposition of supportive vs non-supportive home environments, great treatment of complex emotions and behaviors

What I loved about it: (sequel to The City We Became…also, I highly recommend listening to these books if you enjoy audiobooks. The narrator, Robin Miles, does an exceptional performance.) Modern world sci-fi, excellent characters, clever concept of city avatars, wide-ranging, diverse representation, multi-POV, a touch (very very light touch) of romance/love

What I loved about it: Another audiobook rec: Julia Whelan, who is a rock star audiobook performer. Romance, dual POV, small town-Big city w/o standard tropes or major stereotypes, devotion and loyalty, sensitive treatment of serious issues such as gaslighting and abuse, Minnesota setting

What I loved about it: Back to school as an adult, impostor Syndrome, great characters of all ages, second chance romance (minor plot), Asian American rep

What I loved about it: Black and bi-racial rep, second-time around romance, chronic pain rep, mature treatment of relationships and post-treatment addiction

What I loved about it: Pregnancy and childbirth, in many shapes and circumstances, friendship among three women, relatable situations and emotions, diverse, well-portrayed relationships, love

What I loved about it: Adoption, friendship, mother-daughter relationships, immigrant experience, grief and healing

What I loved about it: Mouth-watering food + recipes, characters to love, magic, second chances, love

What I loved about it: Lyrical writing, Minnesota setting, cross-cultural, characters to love, spiritualism? Magic? You decide, love

What I loved about it: Characters with Pakistani roots, mother-daughter relationship, friendship, love, rediscovering oneself

What I loved about it: Friendship, a sexy librarian, focus on independence and finding happiness within, a heist!, great take on romantic relationships

What I loved about it: Iranian setting, hard decisions, family, love, complex characters and perspectives, interconnectivity

What I loved about it: Fabulous friendships, family and cultural norms/expectations, grief, growth, self-love

What I loved about it: Book about a pandemic, but not about our current pandemic, valuable female friendships, tears, but also laughter, love

What I loved about it: Magic, many great characters, love, deep sense of goodness, an interesting vagueness of time period/setting, hope

What I loved about it: Dual timeline POV, DNA surprises, great characterization, authentic emotional reactions, mother-daughter relationship, Jewish rep

What I loved about it: Full cast of queer characters, reality TV show setting, relatable representation of mental health issues, swoon-worthy romance

What I loved about it: Middle Grade, written in verse, plus-sized character, friendship goals,an awesome dad, will make your heart hurt, but hopeful

What I loved about it: Adult fiction, national Book Award winner, fabulous opening pages, main character is an author, spot on commentary about human nature, racism, and U.S. society, kept my brain churning as I read to figure things out

What I loved about it: Dual settings - New York and Taiwan, complicated family relationships (one of my favorite things), characters to love and relate to, food!, a light dash of romance

What I loved about it: Smart professional (MC) who doesn’t have to prove herself to co-workers, plus-size MC who isn’t trying to lose weight (hallelujah!), Mumbai setting steeped in Punjabi culture and norms, independent while still trying to conform for the sake of family, side-story romance with a fabulous love interest