Book Lists – A Spoonful of Honi

Best Books of 2021 So Far

Kimberly — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 13:00:28 +0000

I’ve read over 35 books in 2021 so far, and I’ve read some really great books as well, so I decided it was time to whittle down my reads to some of the best in 2021 thus far. Let’s get started! one | It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover Lilly didn’t have an easy childhood. From saving homeless boys from themselves to protecting her mother from her abusive father, she didn’t really get to be a kid. But, she moves to Boston once she graduates from college, and life couldn’t be better. She opens her own flower shop, falls in love with a neurosurgeon, and makes an amazing new best friend. Everything seems perfect, but one day, just 15 seconds, changes everything. When the boy from her past comes back into her life, Lilly doesn’t know what she should do. A beautiful story about love, loss, and second chances, Colleen Hoover is sure to drag you between the covers and leave you wanting more. two | How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang Lucy and Sam only have each other now. After their father, Ba, passes away, they must trek across the western dessert that promised gold to bury him. Told across three timelines, How Much of These Hills is Gold is a gripping story about Asian America immigrants during the gold rush, family, and adventure. Sure to break your heart in unexpected ways, this book is one of a kind. three | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick Rick Deckard has a license to kill — kill androids that is. It’s 2021 (or 2048 depending on the version of the book you read), and San Fransisco lies under a radioactive cloud of dust. The world experienced World War III making it uninhabitable, and while most people have escaped to live on Mars with androids serving them, some have stayed on Earth. Rick makes a living by hunting androids that have escaped enslavement on Mars for a better life on Earth. He is tasked with killing six androids in one day, which is unheard of, and he’s about to experience a life-changing mission. Like most of Dick’s work, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? leaves readers guessing far past the last page. four | Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler A new automatic recommendation from me, Crucial Conversations should be on everyone’s TBR list. This book is full of helpful information on how to lead conversations in all areas of your life — from the boardroom to the kitchen table. This book serves as a reminder, or an informer, on how to hold the toughest conversations we may face in life. With helpful examples and applicable skills, this book will revolutionize how your approach any conversation after you read it. five | The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett Mallard is a quirky town. Despite being a Black town, the residents value the lightest skin possible, and when Stella Vignes discovers she can pass as a white woman, she grabs at the opportunity. Unlike Stella, Desiree, the other half of the Vignes twins, marries the darkest man she can find and has his baby. When the twins run away from Mallard, the town thinks they’ll never see them again, but when Desiree returns with her Black child, everything begins to unfold in remarkable ways. Bennett has a way with crafting stories, and The Vanishing Half is no different. A heartbreaking story about family, destiny, and race that is sure to leave you thinking. Happy reading, Kimberly

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Books to Read During Pride Month (And Year Long) | 2021

Kimberly — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 13:00:46 +0000

Happy Pride! This month, I’m sending love to those that are out and proud, those finding their safe spaces to explore themselves, those still figuring it out, and everyone in between. I’ve rounded up a few books I’ve read or plan to read that I think showcase the varied experiences someone can have in life. Please note, I do identify as she/her and as straight, so please support LGBTQ creators and authors as much as possible this month! one | Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz Aristotle and Dante don’t fit in. Aristotle is angry at the world, and Dante is a know-it-all. But when the two meet at the pool one summer, an instant friendship is created. Together, the two discover everything together, including the most important truth about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. A staple YA book that explores identity at arguable the most crucial time in a young kid’s life. two | You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat Imagine telling your mother you’re queer, and her responding with, “You exist too much.” That’s exactly what happens to Arafat’s protagonist in this gripping story about cultural, religious, and sexual identities. This book follows a girl from the Middle East to the US as she discovers who she really is by unfolding her traumas and reflecting on the places and things that helped form her. three | Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters Reese, Ames, and Katrina are about to enter into a very complicated relationship. Reese and Ames were together when Ames was Amy. He decided to detransition to a live as a man to make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese, his only family. When Katrina, Ames’s boss and lover finds out she’s pregnant with Ames’s child, he wonders if this is the chance he’s been waiting for to have it all with Reese. Could they be a family together? four | How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang Lucy and Sam only have each other now. After their father, Ba, passes away, they have must trek across the western dessert that promised gold to bury him. Told across three timelines, How Much of These Hills is Gold is a gripping story about Asian American immigrants during the gold rush, family, and adventure. Sure to break your heart in unexpected ways, this book is one of a kind. five | Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Alex is the First Son of the United States — his mom is the President — and Henry is the Prince of England. They are sworn enemies, until one day they have to pretend to be best friends to save face after toppling a wedding cake at the royal wedding. What originally starts as a forced friendship, blossoms into a full-on love affair. This was a wonderful young adult romance that helped highlight other types of love stories for teens to look up to. six | Patsy by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn Patsy knows her future is in America. Her best friend Cicely moved there years ago, and she can’t help but think better things are waiting for her across the ocean in New York. The only thing is, she has to leave her daughter, Tru, behind with her father in Jamaica. When Patsy lands in New York, nothing is the way she thought it would be — Cicely is married to a horrible man, finding a job without papers is nearly impossible, and she can’t even muster up the courage to call her daughter. Told in alternating perspectives from Patsy and Tru, this book is one immigrant’s story about figuring out what the American dream really is. seven | The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai The Great Believers takes place in 1985-1991 Chicago as well as 2015 Paris. The LGBTQ community of Chicago is experiencing a genocide. AIDS has taken hold of the community, and it is ripping apart families and friendships. Makkai follows Yale’s story in Chicago and Fiona’s story in Paris. Both stories feature the idea of lost love, lost family, and lost time in totally different ways. Fiona is a key character throughout the Chicago timeline as well as the Paris timeline, and as a reader, you can’t help but love and hate her at the same time. Even though you go into this story knowing there probably isn’t any hope, you still cling to it — hoping the best for the boys who you know too well are going to most likely end up as corpses. Makkai has a few tricks up her sleeve and crafts a beautiful story of love, loss, redemption, and friendship. This is a must read. eight | All My Mother’s Lovers: A Novel by Ilana Masad When Maggie Krause finds her mother’s old letters addressed to mysterious people after her mother’s untimely death, her world is further shattered. On a road trip to hand-deliver these letters she found, Maggie learns more about her mother than she ever expected. A story about family, grief, and identity, All My Mother’s Lovers promises to be a fulfilling read. nine | They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera Mateo and Rufus live in a world where they know the exact day, but not moment, they are going to die. The two teenagers meet each other on their End Days with the help of the app “Last Friend.” Through their adventures together and a handful of cameo characters, readers get a strong understanding of fate, connection, and living life to the fullest. ten | Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman Call Me By Your Name is a story about a boy falling in love with a summer guest at his parent’s cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera. Neither are prepared for the sudden attraction, but both fall victim to the building passion and desire within themselves. Described as a “frank, unsentimental, heartrending elegy,” Call Me By Your Name is an unforgettable story. Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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Most Anticipated Summer Book Releases | 2021

Kimberly — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:00:03 +0000

It’s been a rainy few weeks in Nashville, but that doesn’t mean I’m not counting down the days to days in the park reading under the shade. Summer is the perfect time for a thriller, and these new releases will not disappoint. Let’s get started! one | Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Riva family is famous. Not only are a few of them pro-surfers and models, but they throw the wildest beach party every summer that anyone who is anyone always makes sure to attend. This year, things are different. This year, by 8 a.m., everything is up in flames. Reid tells the timeless story of what it means to be family — chosen and otherwise. She alternates between two timelines, the 80s with the current Riva family and telling the Riva family backstory, which, of course, is full of heartbreak. Out June 1, 2021. two | The Maidens by Alex Michaelides Mariana Andros is a group therapist fixated on Edward Fosca. He’s a murderer, and she’s convinced she’s the only one that can bring him down. Edward is a Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, and he is adored by everyone he meets, including a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. When a friend of Mariana’s niece is found murdered, nothing will stop Mariana from figuring out how Edward did it. Out June 15, 2021. three | The Husbands by Chandler Baker Nora is a successful attorney, and while her husband works hard, it always seems like she’s working harder. From packing lunches to knowing where the extra paper towel rolls are, why is working double-time in her career and personal life? When her and her husband go house-hunting in Dynasty Ranch, Nora meets a group of high-powered women like herself who seem to have excessively supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, Nora finds out that some secrets, like the secret to having-it-all, may be worth killing for. Out June 29, 2021. four | Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda Nothing ever happens in Hollow’s Edge. That is, until the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. Now, gossip circles the town as its residents contemplate how they implicated one of their own, Ruby Fletcher. While they are all stuck in their homes, unable to leave this now cursed town, Ruby’s conviction is overturned, and she’s back in Hollow’s Edge. Ruby is living with Harper Nash once again, and how is Harper to turn her away when she knows she has no where else to go? Within days of Ruby’s return, it becomes clear that not everyone was telling the truth when they took the stand, and now Harper has to figure out who the real killer is before someone else is murdered. Out July 6, 2021. five | She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan It is 1345, and two children from the Zhu family are given fates – the son is destined for greatness; the daughter for nothingness. The family doesn’t question either fate, but when the son, Zhu Chongba, dies after an attack, the daughter must take up his identity to escape her own fate. As she enters the monastery as her brother, Zhu learns that she is willing to do anything to avoid being nothing. This is the reimagined story of the rise of the founding emperor of the Mind Dynasty. Out July 20, 2021. six | The Family Plot by Megan Collins Dahlia has a lot to learn about the real world. After being raised in a secluded mansion deep in the woods by her true-crime obsessed parents, Dahlia took the last few years to branch out on her own, learn about herself, and forget the one thing she is always running from, the disappearance of her twin brother, Andy, when they were sixteen. When Dahlia’s father’s death forces her to return home, the family finds the reserved plot for her father holding another body – her brother Andy’s. While each family handles the discovery in their own, twisted, way, Dahlia realizes that the answers to her brother’s disappearance may be in the very mansion she is staying in. Out August 17, 2021. seven | Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Maite lives an unassuming life as a secretary in Mexico City in the 1970s. She lives for the latest issue of “Secret Romance,” longing to lose herself in a story of passion rather than live in the student protests and political unrest that consume her city. When Maite’s neighbor, Leonora, goes missing, Maite can’t help but dive into her world and try to find her. But Maite isn’t the only person looking for Leonora. Elvis, a member of a goon squad is also on the lookout for Leonora , but as he looks for Maite’s neighbor, he grows more and more obsessed with Maite from a distance. As the pair come closer to finding Leonora, danger becomes an almost constant that they must escape. Out August 17, 2021. eight | A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins Laura. Carla. And Miriam. Three separate women with ties to a murdered young man. When the young man is found, each woman is questioned to find out what they know. Laura has a past. She’s spent her life being judged, but she’s only a one-night stand, right? Carla is his aunt. She’s mourning the death of another family member, and she trusts no one to tell her the truth. And Miriam? Miriam is just a nosy neighbor who knows more than she’s letting on to the police. Three separate women with three separate reasons to want someone dead. Even good people can do bad things when pushed to the brink. Out August 17, 2021. Happy reading, Kimberly

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Book Covers that Remind Me of Spring

Kimberly — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:00:27 +0000

We’ve had a few chilly days here in Nashville over the last few weeks, and it’s making me crave full-time spring. I thought it would be fun to share a wrap-up of the most spring-like book covers I’ve seen across the internet. Let’s get started! one | Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell It’s 1580s England, and a young Latin tutor falls in love with an eccentric woman, Agnes, who is known across the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer. When the pair marry and settle into their home on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a force of nature in her husband’s life. Agnes’s husband’s career is taking off as a London stage actor when his beloved son takes ill. Four year’s later, the husband writes a play called Hamlet. Hamnet tells the story of a family ravaged by grief and explores the little-known story behind Shakespeare’s famous play. two | Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender Felix has never been in love. He’s Black, queer, and transgender, and he fears he’s just too marginalized to ever find someone to love him just the way he is. When an anonymous student begins bullying Felix — posting his deadname online and sharing photos before Felix’s transition — Felix decides it’s time to put the bully in his place. Through an act of revenge, Felix finds himself in an impossible love triangle. This book is a journey of self-discovery, and along the way, Felix finds out what it means to love himself – every beautiful part. three | The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay Shalini is convinced that her mother’s death is somehow related to the decade-old disappearance of Bashir Ahmed, a Kashmiri salesman who frequented her childhood home, and she is determined to confront him. When she travels to a remote Himalayan village, she is brought face-to-face with the dirty politics of the area and she is taken in by a local family. When things turn dark in the village, Shalina is forced to choose between finding the truth or hurting the people she has come to love. This book is said to examine Indian politics, class prejudice, and sexuality through the lens of an outsider, offering a profound meditation on grief, guilt, and the limits of compassion. four | The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray Lillian, Viola, and Althea have only ever had themselves. Their mom died at an early age, their father was always on the road, and their brother wasn’t much to write home about. When Althea and her husband, Procter, are sent to jail for a “victimless crime,” Lillian and Viola must band together to help save the only family they have left — Althea’s twin daughters. While the young girls feel like their lives are falling apart around them, Lillian and Viola must put their troubles aside to protect the only family that matters to them. This is a gripping story about the importance of family, battling inner demons, and forgiveness. five | Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Basdardoust Soraya has lived her life hidden away in her garden — the only place she can be safe and keep her loved ones safe because she was cursed to be poisonous to the touch. As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows to seek the knowledge that may save her from herself. There is demon who holds the secret to her freedom, and a boy who isn’t afraid of her that looks at her with understanding rather than fear. Soraya has a choice — will she become a princess or a monster? six | The Honey Farm by Harriet Alida Lye Cynthia’s farm is stricken by drought. The soil is dry, the honeycombs are stiff, but Cynthia knows how to fix it. She knows how to satisfy the bees. She offers her farm up as an artists’ colony with free room, board, and life experience in exchange for help in bringing the farm back from the brink. Silvia, a would-be poet, and Ibrahaim, a painter, are drawn to the farm, and soon, to each other. But, of course, everything is not as idyllic as it seems. Cynthia’s farm is a dark place where the taps run red, scalps itch with lice, and frogs swarm the pond. When the rest of the residents leave, Silvia becomes increasingly fearful of what could happen on the farm. seven | Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman In the sequel (prequel?) to Practical Magic, readers follow Susanna Owens and her three dangerously unique children — Franny, Jet, and Vincent. Bad luck has followed the Owen’s family since 1620 when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man, so Susanna has rules — rules that are in place to protect her children. When her children visit their Aunt Isabelle in Massachusetts, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. When they return to New York, they each embark on a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse. eight | Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia From 19th-century cigar factories to present-day detention centers, Of Women and Salt examines the impact of a mother’s choices on her daughter and the legacy of memories. Carmen is a Cuban immigrant dealing with the trauma of displacement and unpacking her complicated relationship with her mother while raising Jeanette. Jeanette is battling addiction, and she’s determined to learn about her family history. On a trip to Cuba to learn from her grandmother, Jeanette and Carmen must face secrets long ago buried. nine | The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk Beatrice Clayborn lives in a world where she will one day be locked in a marital collar that will cut of her magical powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of the day she could pursue magic full-time like men, but her family is relying on marriage to save them from crippling debt. One day, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to her dream life. Before she can take it for herself, the book is ripped from her clutches. To get it back, Beatrice summons a spirit, but her new ally requires something in return for their help — Beatrice’s first kiss with her adversary’s brother, Ianthe Lavan. As she becomes more entangled with the Lavan siblings, Beatrice’s choice to save her family or save herself becomes more complicated than she could ever imagine. ten | The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Told across two timelines, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a story about women who will do whatever it takes to survive. In the 1800s, an apothecary in London becomes a place where women who need to get rid of troublemaking men know they can go for help. Meanwhile, in the modern-day, a historian named Caroline Parcewell is about to make a discovery about the apothecary murders that will turn her life upside down. Happy reading, Kimberly

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Hyped Books I Can’t Wait to Read

Kimberly — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:00:52 +0000

I can’t be the only one that sees the same book over and over again on Bookstagram and Booktok, right? I know I’m bound to be disappointed by these (I usually am at least a little let down by anything that’s overhyped), but it doesn’t make me want to read them any less. Let’s get started! one | Shadow and Bone (series) by Leigh Bardugo Because the Netflix show is coming out soon, this is the only thing I see on my TikTok. Between Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo might be the most hyped up author on social media (aside from Sarah J. Maas). Shadow and Bone takes place in Ravka, a nation divided in two by a darkness full of monsters. When Alina Starov’s team is attacked near this darkness, her dormant powers are awakened. With this newfound power, Alina may be the answer to Ravka’s problems. Of course, nothing is as it seems, and while she’s being trained as a member of the magical elite, Alina is bound to uncover some secrets. two | The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Everyone is saying this is going to break my heart, and I think I am ready! Madeline Miller reimagines the Trojan War in this epic masterpiece. Young Patroclus is exiled to live with Kind Peleus and his son Achilles. The two strike up a friendship, and as they grow, through their trainings in war and medicine, their relationship blooms into something else. Something Achilles’ mother is deeply unhappy about. When Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, Achilles and Patroclus are torn between duty and love. three | Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Bree is looking for any means of escape after her mother’s sudden death. The residential program at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect place to run away to, but when she witnesses a magical attack during her first night on campus, everything changes. This is Bree’s entrance into the magical world. There are flying demons and a team of students, called Legendborns, that hunt them down, and a mage that tries, and fails, to wipe Bree’s memory. When her memory refuses to be wiped, Bree discovers her own magical powers that tell her more about her mother than she ever remembered before. In a desperate attempt to find out more about her mother’s accident, Bree enlists a partner, Nick, to help her unlock the secrets of the Legendborns. The farther she falls into the world, the harder it is for Bree to decide to keep digging or to join in the magical fight. four | The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Jude has been living in the High Court of Faerie since she was seven years old. Ten years later, and Jude feels no where closer to belonging in the terrifying court than before. She is human, and the fey despise her, including Prince Cardan, the cruelest son of the High King. Jude fights to win a place at the Court, and through her trials, she learns of a deep betrayal planning to overthrow the Courts of Faeries. Jude must make a decision to save her sisters and the fey or let the world as she knows it go up in flames. five | From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout If you haven’t heard of From Blood and Ash by now, you probably aren’t on Booktok/Booksta. Poppy is a Maiden. She has spent all her life preparing for her Ascension, when she will be found worthy by the gods. She’d much rather be fighting the evil that took her family, but it’s never been her choice. The entire kingdom’s future lays with Poppy, and when Hawke, a guard bound to protect her, comes into the picture, everything may come tumbling down. six | The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin Every city has a soul. The soul can be a beautiful thing or a destructive element. New York City has five souls. Five people that feel like a part of the city. When an ancient evil threatens to destroy New York City, these five people, five souls, must come together to stop it. seven | The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang One of my favorite Booktubers, Peruse Project, talks about this book frequently, and I just absolutely have to read it. After acing the Keju, an Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the academies, Rin is on her way to Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan. This means freedom for the first time in a long time to Rin. Or, so she thought. What it actually means is being a target amongst her new schoolmates. When Rin finds out that, on top of being a genius, she’s also deeply gifted with the nearly-mythical art of shamanism, she must learn how to control her power in order to not only survive school but possibly save her empire. eight | The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Blue’s never been able to tell when someone is going to die. Not like her mother. That is, until she meets Gansey. Gansey is an Aglionby student, commonly known as a Raven Boy. He’s rich, and that can only mean trouble. Blue’s always tried to keep her distance from Raven Boys, but she’s inexplicably drawn to Gansey and his quest the involves his friends Adam, Ronan, and Noah. Blue’s always been warned that she will cause her true loves death, and now, she feels like its finally a problem. nine | A Court of Thorns and Roses (series) by Sarah J. Maas Sarah J. Maas has to be the most hyped author across social media. I read the Throne of Glass series and loved the arc but thought the writing was just fine. I still want to give A Court of Thorns and Roses a chance because I can leave no stone unturned. Feyre must survive. One day, that means killing the unthinkable — a faerie. When Feyre is caught for committing the crime, she is dragged to the magical kingdom but a mysterious capture, her life is never the same. Feyre is being heavily guarded, and when she finds out why, her feelings for her captor turn from hostility to passion. Feyre must fight to break an acient curse, or she may lose her love forever. (Honestly, side note, I’d never really known what this book was about, and just writing the description based off of the Goodreads summary made me cringe. Can someone please tell me this isn’t the lamest book with it’s main character suffering from Stockholm Syndrome?) ten | The Infernal Devices/The Dark Artifices (series) by Cassandra Clare I read Cassandra Clares Mortal Instruments series when I was growing up, and I absolutely loved them. I didn’t keep up with her releases thought, and now I’m terribly behind. I hear so many good things about these series that continue the Shadowhunter world, that I may just have to dedicate a year of my life to reading them. Happy reading, Kimberly

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Most Anticipated Spring 2021 Book Releases

Kimberly — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:00:44 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I am very ready for spring. We’ve had some pretty beautiful days in the last week or two, and I’ve been dressing for the weather I want, not necessarily the weather I have, and I am a-okay with that. With a new season come new book releases! Let’s get started with my most anticipated spring 2021 book releases! one | The Elephant of Belfast by S. Kirk Walsh Based on the true events about a zookeeper and an elephant, The Elephant of Belfast follows Hettie Quin and her three-year-old elephant Violet during World War II. Hettie works at the Bellevue Zoo in Belfast as Violet’s personal keeper. When Belfast is bombed in April 1941 and nearly 1,000 civilians are killed, Hettie must fight tooth-and-nail to project Violet the night and during the resulting unrest. This book was inspired by the true life of Denise Austin. Out April 6 two | Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson Bree Cabbat grew up in rural Georgia with a single mother, so when she marries into a family with wealth, power, and the right connections, she feels like she’s really made it. One day, she wakes up to see an old woman peering into her bedroom window. She disappears as quickly as she appeared, but Bree sees her later that day at her daughter’s school in the parking lot. Bree thinks nothing of it until she notices her baby boy isn’t in his car seat anymore. In order to get her baby back, Bree must complete one seemingly innocent task. But what seems innocent, turns into a tangled web of tragedy. Out April 6 three | The Light of Days by Judy Batalion Meet the band of women who served as couriers, armed fighters, intelligence agents, and saboteurs during World War II. The Light of Days is the incredible true story of the Jewish women of Poland who helped transform Jewish youth groups into resistance cells to fight the Nazis. They paid off guards, hid guns in bread loaves, flirted with German soldiers just to kill them, and some even orchestrated their own escape from Nazi jail. This is the tale of the fight for freedom and staggering female bravery that was present throughout the war. Out April 6 four | Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez Vanessa lives life to the fullest because she never knows which day will be her last. As a travel influencer focused on showing her followers how to live life in the moment, she’s just too busy to think about the potential illness that may run through her veins. Everything changes one day when her half-sister leaves her infant daughter with Vanessa. Now, Vanessa is house-bound and in charge of a new life she barely knows. Who else to come to her rescue but her by-the-books, hot lawyer neighbor! Sparks are bound to fly. Out April 6 five | The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen Caroline is getting a divorce. As she comes to grips with the end of her marriage, she receives a request from her great-aunt, Juliet “Lettie” Browning. She’s being sent on an adventure with a sketchbook, three keys, and a destination – Venice. Lettie wants to take Caroline down memory lane by sending her to her favorite place. On this adventure, Caroline will learn about Lettie’s love affair with Leonardo, a man whose whole life is determined by his royal blood. The two believe they can never be together until one day war forces the pair to fight, survive, and protect a secret that will bind them forever. Out April 13 six | Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Ryland Grace can’t even remember his own name, but he is expected to save Earth from an extinction-level threat. When he wakes up in space surrounded by two corpses, he realizes the task he has set out to accomplish is going to be near impossible — that is, once he remembers what that task is. Out May 4 seven | The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz Once a promising young novelist, Jacob is now a second-rate teacher at a third-rate MFA program. He hasn’t written a book in years, and when his arrogant student Evan boasts about his fail-proof plot, Jacob writes him off as a narcissist. But, when he hears the idea, he knows Evan has a best-seller on his hands. While waiting for Evan’s eventual success, Jacob finds out his student has died, and he does what any other writer would do with an amazing story (right?), he tells it. Jacob finds astronomical success with his stolen idea, and he thinks he’s gotten away with it until he gets a mysterious email one day. “You are a theif.” Out May 11 eight | Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid It’s August 1983, and Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party is happening. The Riva’s — Nina, Jay, and Kit — are the people to be, but no one wants to be at her party less than Nina herself. Nina was recently left by her husband for his tennis partner. Jay is waiting for his dream girl to arrive. And Kit is waiting for her secret guest to arrive. By midnight, the party is out of control, and by morning, the mansion will be up in flames. Out June 1 Happy reading, Kimberly

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Books to Read for Women’s History Month 2021

Kimberly — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 14:00:58 +0000

Happy Women’s History Month! To celebrate, I’ve compiled a list of a few of my favorite and most-anticipated reads written by women and about women. I’ve broken it down into a few sub-categories, but I obviously can’t cover all of the amazing books written by women. This is barely a scratch, but I hope you find a new favorite. Let’s get started! Memoirs Untamed by Glennon Doyle A book about finding yourself, finding your passion, finding your purpose, and finding your person. Untamed is Doyle’s memoir that untangles the complex feelings surrounding being a woman, motherhood, family, finding yourself, and so much more. Know My Name by Chanel Miller Chanel was known as only Emily Doe before her identity was revealed as the young woman who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner at Stanford. After Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail, she wrote a statement that went viral and impacted change across the country. In her book, she reclaims her identity and shares her story about what it’s like when the justice system protects the perpetrator more than the victim. Becoming by Michelle Obama Becoming is all about Michelle Obama’s life before and during her husband’s presidency. She shows readers exactly what it was like for her growing up in Chicago, how Princeton was everything she never knew it could be, and how life in the White House is far from what you could imagine. My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ginsburg’s memoir, written with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams, discusses gender equality, the Supreme Court, the Jewish faith, law, and looking beyond the U.S. when interpreting the Constitution. This book is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have an inside look at what Ginsburg’s life was like as one of America’s most influential women. Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes Rhimes chronicled her “year” of saying yes to things. What started as a challenge to accept more appearance opportunities, turned into saying yes to saying no, saying yes to healthier choices, and ultimately, saying yes to happiness no matter what form it comes in. Non-Fiction Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli This children’s book is perfect for anyone to read at any age. It’s packed with 100 stories about 100 women that changed the world, and it was illustrated by 60 female artists from around the globe. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly Before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, there was a team of “Human Computers” that calculated flight path after flight path to ensure the journey would be possible. Among this team was a group of bright African American women without whom the trip to the moon may not have been possible. Told against a back-drop of the civil rights era, the Cold War, and the women’s rights movement, this book tells the remarkable story of how five women changed history. Radium Girls by Kate Moore When radium was first discovered, it was a highly coveted element. From makeup products to lotions, everyone wanted to get their hands on it. But when the girls that work in the factory become mysteriously ill, no one wants to admit blame. These shining girls (they literally shine from the radium exposure) paved a way to stricter regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and life-saving laws. Fiction The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Addie LaRue made a deal with the devil 300 years ago, and no one has been able to remember her since. She has survived wars, the invention of planes, famines, and so much more without anyone remembering her name. Until she runs into a boy in a bookshop one day and everything changes. He remembers her. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is beautiful and, of course, heartbreaking. It reminds readers to live every day as if it were their last and to never be afraid to stand in the storm. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win by Jo Piazza Charlotte Walsh is running for Senate in her home state of Pennsylvania after living in California for the last 10+ years of her life. She wants to make a difference, and she’s determined to win. She’s running against a male incumbent who’s less than impressive. This book is about both Charlotte’s race to win a seat in Washington as well as the choices she makes before and during the race that make her the person she is today. I’m still grappling with my feelings on the ending and thinking about if I would have made the same choices as Charlotte, but at the end of the day, Piazza’s book is about more than a woman winning or not winning an election — it’s about a woman fighting day in and day out for what she believes is right. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Children of Blood and Bone takes place in a fictional land that used to be ripe with magic but was purged of it when the king became scared of the power the Magi held. Zélie must go on a dangerous quest with her brother and the princess of Orïsha to restore magic to the land. It sounds pretty run of the mill fantasy, but I promise it’s anything but ordinary. Circe by Madeline Miller It’s the story of the Titan Helios’s discarded daughter, Circe. She is not like typical Titans and must live her life in exile after performing witchcraft in her father’s halls. She inhabits the island of Aiaia with the animals she brings into existence. Sometimes gods visit her, sometimes men stumble upon her island, but the story really starts when Odysseus lands in her path and impregnates her. Circe is a powerful witch that has strength beyond her powers. The reader watches her grow, learn, and wield her influence with poise. Miller brings humanity to one of the strongest myths in existence, and the reader can’t help but keep turning the pages. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Little Fires Everywhere starts off with where the story actually ends and then goes back to fill in all the missing pieces. Single-mother Mia and her daughter Pearl, the Richardson family (whom Pearl befriends), and the McCullough’s, who are hoping to adopt a baby. These three families’ lives intertwine in unexpected ways and the true mystery of the story — how Pearl and Mia became such a dynamic duo — is revealed. This book traps reader’s from the very first page. Happy reading, Kimberly

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Books To Curl Up With On a Snow Day

Kimberly — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:00:27 +0000

We had snow here in Nashville last week — real snow that kept me in my house for a week because this girl does not drive in the snow. All I wanted to do was curl up with a good book and read for hours. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you want to look at it) I had to work all week, so I didn’t get to have a traditional snow day, but it did make me want to create this list of books to curl up with on a snow day. Let’s get started! one | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Monique lives in modern-day New York and is writing about the life of the 50s movie starlet Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn chronicles her life to Monique, so much of the story actually taking place in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. As Evelyn tells Monique about the trials and tribulations she faced as a woman trying to reach stardom, and about her seven husbands throughout her lifetime, Monique gains a new sense of confidence in her own life because of the stories Evelyn is telling her, and she learns a terrible secret along the way. two | One Day in December by Josie Silver Laurie spots him from the bus window. He’s waiting outside, and she wills him to come on board, but the universe has other plans. She spends a whole year looking for him, only to find him at her very home, as her roommate and best friend’s boyfriend. What ensues is nearly ten years of near misses and a topsy-turvy love triangle you can’t help but root for. three | The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Addie LaRue made a deal with the devil 300 years ago, and no one has been able to remember her since. She has survived wars, the invention of planes, famines, and so much more without anyone remembering her name. Until she runs into a boy in a bookshop one day and everything changes. He remembers her. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is beautiful and, of course, heartbreaking. It reminds readers to live every day as if it were their last and to never be afraid to stand in the storm. four | The Dreamers by Karen Walker Thompson Santa Lora — a small college town — is put under lockdown when kids at the college start falling asleep and not waking up. The disease is contained in the town by taking extreme measures like the National Guard and police officers stationed at the borders of the town ensuring nobody can leave. Thompson follows five or six main characters as they experience the virus in vastly different ways. five | My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Korede is called in time and time again to save her sister from herself. Korede’s sister keeps killing her boyfriends. Korede struggles with turning her sister in to the Nigerian police, but ultimately, she decides family is more important than anything else. That is, until Korede’s sister starts dating the doctor Korede has been madly in love with for some time. Korede must choose between saving the man she loves from the inevitable or protecting her sister. six | Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Alex is the First Son of the United States — his mom is the President — and Henry is the Prince of England. They are sworn enemies, until one day, they have to pretend to be best friends to save face after toppling a wedding cake at the royal wedding. What originally starts as a forced friendship, blossoms into a full-on love affair. This was a wonderful young adult romance that helped highlight other types of love stories for teens to look up to. seven | The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Evelyn Hardcastle is going to be murdered. Aiden Bishop must figure out by whom. Each day, he wakes up in a different person’s body whose perspective should help him put the pieces together. He’s racing against other participants to figure out the murder suspect so he can finally escape Blackheath. All the twists and turns along the way are worth every page turn and late-night spent reading. eight | Verity by Colleen Hoover Verity is an author of a best-selling series who has lost two daughters to tragic accidents. She herself is comatose after a car accident, and therefore, her husband, Jeremy, has gone about hiring a ghost-writer to finish her book series. The lucky ghost-writer just so happens to be Lowen, the woman Jeremy gave the shirt off his back to after they both witnessed a man get run over by a truck in New York minutes before they were supposed to be meeting about the book deal. Jeremy and Lowen immediately have chemistry, and that is only heightened when Lowen has to spend a few days at his house looking through Verity’s notes to continue her books. But strange things are happening in the house. Lowen swears Verity keeps staring at her, and she can’t seem to figure out why the TV keeps turning itself off when she knows the nurse looking after Verity said she left it on. The book is eerie and creepy, and I recommend reading it during daylight hours. nine |The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Vianne and Isabelle are trapped in France during World War II, and each sister must serve their country in the best way they know how. For Vianne, this means being strong for her children while her husband fights on the front-lines and a German soldier moves into her home. On the other hand, Isabelle serves as a spy against the Germans. Each sister’s journey is full of bravery and tells the heartbreaking story of what war can do to families and countries. ten | Normal People by Sally Rooney Connell and Marianne don’t really know each other, at least, they pretend they don’t at school. When their paths cross in Marianne’s home when Connell is waiting for his mother to finish her duties, he makes pleasant conversation, but Marianne is weird and he wouldn’t want anyone to know they are kind of, sort of friends. When they end up at the same university, the tables are turned. Marianne is the popular girl while Connell is lost, trying to find his way. Somehow, their paths always cross, and their relationship explores the complexities of first love, the importance of communication, and the complexity of family and community relationships. Happy reading, Kimberly

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5 Books to Read this Valentine’s Day

Kimberly — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:00:29 +0000

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, you either love it or hate it — there is no one in the world that is just “meh” about this day of love. Whether you think its lame or adorable, it’s still a good reason to develop a themed list! I’m here with some classic rom-coms as well as some more unconventional picks for you to read during this season of love. Let’s get started! one | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Monique lives in modern-day New York and is writing about the life of the 50s movie starlet Evelyn Hugo. Evelyn chronicles her life to Monique, so much of the story actually taking place in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. As Evelyn tells Monique about the trials and tribulations she faced as a woman trying to reach stardom, and about her seven husbands throughout her lifetime, Monique gains a new sense of confidence in her own life because of the stories Evelyn is telling her, and she learns a terrible secret along the way. two | It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover Lilly didn’t have an easy childhood. From saving homeless boys from themselves to protecting her mother from her abusive father, she didn’t really get to be a kid. But, she moves to Boston once she graduates from college, and life couldn’t be better. She opens her own flower shop, falls in love with a neurosurgeon, and makes an amazing new best friend. Everything seems perfect, but one day, just 15 seconds, changes everything. When the boy from her past comes back into her life, Lilly doesn’t know what she should do. A beautiful story about love, loss, and second chances, Colleen Hoover is sure to drag you between the covers and leave you wanting more. three | The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Addie LaRue made a deal with the devil 300 years ago, and no one has been able to remember her since. She has survived wars, the invention of planes, famines, and so much more without anyone remembering her name. Until she runs into a boy in a bookshop one day and everything changes. He remembers her. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is beautiful and, of course, heartbreaking. It reminds readers to live every day as if it were their last and to never be afraid to stand in the storm. four | Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Alex is the First Son of the United States — his mom is the President — and Henry is the Prince of England. They are sworn enemies, until one day, they have to pretend to be best friends to save face after toppling a wedding cake at the royal wedding. What originally starts as a forced friendship, blossoms into a full-on love affair. This was a wonderful young adult romance that helped highlight other types of love stories for teens to look up to. five | The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Follow Olive and Ethan, sworn enemies, on a delightful honeymoon meant for their siblings in this twisty contemporary romance sure to satisfy the heart. Olive’s twin, Ami, and Ethan’s brother, Dane, have a seafood buffet at their wedding that renders everyone sick except, of course, Olive and Ethan, who can’t stand each other. The two reluctantly take the trip to Maui that Ami won, and subsequently have to lie their butts off to Olive’s new boss and Ethan’s ex-girlfriend when they run into them both in Hawaii. Obviously, they fall in love, but my favorite part is a huge twist between Olive and Dane that will leave you fist-pumping in the air. Happy reading, Kimberly

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