Books – A Spoonful of Honi

Books I Read in June | 2021

Kimberly — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:00:53 +0000

Nothing hits quite like summer reading. When I was in school, I remember being given a list of books where I was supposed to choose three-to-five books to read over the summer break, and I always read the whole list — I didn’t want to have picked the wrong books! Let’s get started! one | Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Bree is looking to do anything but think about her mother’s recent death. When she gets accepted to the Early College program at UNC – Chapel Hill with her best friend, Bree thinks all her prayers have been answered. But before Bree can get settled into life as a kind of college student, the rug is ripped out from under her. She is exposed to ancient demons, a secret society hell-bent on protecting the world from the dark, and she meets the potential love of her life — a self-exiled member of this secret society, the Legendborn. This book takes readers on a magical adventure reminiscent of King Arthur while also tackling complex topics like racism and sexism. 10/10 would recommend. 5/5 Stars two | The Dutch House by Ann Patchett — Audiobook The Dutch House is beginning of the end for the Conroy family. When Cyril, the father, buys the house, he thinks all their problems will be solved. They’ve made it! But the mother hates the house, and ends up leaving her children to its darkness. When Cyril marries Andrea and passes away unexpectedly, Danny and Maeve are forced out on their own to pave their own way in life. This story is told over five decades and focuses on the unbreakable bond between brother and sister. Overall, I felt like not much happened. It was an interesting story about the cycles we find ourselves in, but it didn’t leave me wanting anything more from it or thinking too deeply about my own life. 3/5 Stars three | Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo Alina and Mal are on the run from the Darkling when they are unfortunately caught and swept aboard a pirate ship. Much to their dismay, they are going to have to trust the captain of this ship with their lives and hope they make it out alive. This is the second book in the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy, and it very much serves as a bridge between the first and the third. Alina and Mal both go through a lot of character building, new characters are introduced, and there is a lot of training for war. 4/5 Stars four | No Exit by Taylor Adams Darby is driving home because she has to tell her mother she loves her before she goes into surgery. But Snowmageddon has other plans. Darby gets stranded at a poorly stocked truck stop with terrible coffee with four strangers. When Darby tries to find a cell signal to at least call her mother, she spots a pale, tiny hand grasping a bar inside the back of a van, and her entire night changes. It’s no longer a countdown to the snowplows, but a countdown to save an innocent life. Darby must figure out which of these strangers is the kidnapper, who she can trust, and how to save this girl. This is now the most important night of Darby’s life for two reasons. 5/5 Stars Triggers: Animal cruelty, kidnapping, sex trafficking, sexual assault, graphic depiction of torture five | Know My Name by Chanel Miller — Audiobook For many years, Chanel Miller was known as Emily Doe, the victim in the Stanford rape trial. She was found by two Swedish men riding their bikes being assaulted behind a dumpster by Brock Turner. In her debut book, Chanel tells the story from her perspective. She shares about the slow-unfolding of that night’s events, the horror at learning intimate details of the case while on the stand, and the injustice to victims of having to prove guilt even when a perpetrator has been caught in the act. Chanel has a talent for writing, and her bravery is unparalleled. 5/5 Stars six | Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab Boundaries and I had never met before I read this book. Tawwab, a licensed counselor, knows how hard it can be to set boundaries and how destructive it can be to live a life without them. She takes readers on a journey to understand what boundaries are, what happens when you don’t have them, and how you can set them while maintaining your relationships with yourself, family, and friends. 5/5 Stars Happy reading, Kimberly

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No Exit | A Book Review

Kimberly — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 13:00:27 +0000

Trigger Warnings: descriptions of extreme violence, torture, insinuations of rape, sex trafficking, and pedophilia, animal cruelty It’s a cold, snowy night when Darby is making the trip she never imagined herself taking — she’s driving home to tell her mother she loves her. Darby and her mother have never gotten along, but now, her mother’s been diagnosed with cancer, and Darby has to make amends for all the horrible things she said to her mother on Thanksgiving. So, that’s why Darby is driving through the worst blizzard she’s seen in her life. That’s why Darby is forced to pull over and wait out the storm at a highway rest stop with four strangers. And that’s where Darby’s life changes for ever, because that’s when she spots a little girl being kept in a cage in the back of one of her fellow traveler’s. vans. This is no longer just a long night Darby must survive, but a life-or-death situation where she must figure out who, if anyone, she can trust to save this little girl from certain death. Despite Adams’ writing style being honest and direct, No Exit was a wild ride from beginning to end. If you’re a regular connoisseur of thrillers, you’ll pick up on a few hints dropped throughout the book guiding readers on the path, but it still makes you want to turn the page over and over again to see how the story unfolds. Adams’ greatest strength is his ability to write a completely dislikable character with relatively little backstory and make you root for her from page one because all she wants to do is this right thing. Darby is a bit of a brat when we meet her. She’s driving home out of obligation, but all she wants to do is say sorry to her mother for the horrible things she put her through as a child. And now, Darby’s been thrust into a situation with an abducted child that she could have chosen to ignore but is determined to remedy. Readers are shown, not told, how tenacious, determined, brave, and caring Darby can be through her actions. Most thrillers slowly build up their characters from little dropped anecdotes here and there, but Adams has a special way of revealing his characters backstories. His writing will make your skin crawl as he depicts his villain. He does it with just enough humanity that you understand why things have ended up this way, but it still makes you sick to your stomach. This book is not without faults. There’s a bit of a structural deviation at the very end of the book that was a bit cheesy — email formatting to reveal an ending — but all in all, this was a page-turner that kept my attention and left me speechless when I hit the final word on the page. No Exit is a thriller like never before. Trust is just a game, and the unexpected is bound to happen. Happy reading, Kimberly

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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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Malibu Rising | A Book Review

Kimberly — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:00:19 +0000

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest published work on shelves now, and you’d be a fool not to pick it up. If you’ve been here for a while, you know how much I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, and Malibu Rising is another Reid hit to add to the shelves. The Riva family is kind of 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 though, 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 everything that happened before now to get the family to where they are today. From their parents tragic love story to how the infamous beach party got started in the first place, Reid tells the story of the Riva family from the very beginning. After reading a few of Reid’s books, I’ve noticed a few common threads: multiple perspectives, framework stories, and family. At the root of ever Taylor Jenkin’s Reid work is family — and she does it so well. She talks about broken homes, forgiveness, and chosen family in one of the most honest ways I’ve ever encountered in a piece of written fiction. Reid is also brutally honest that sometimes, some mistakes are too big to forgive. I’m also a sucker for multiple POVs, and Reid always does it in a unique fashion. SHOEH utilized a frame story where a reporter was listening to Evelyn share her story, DJ&S was a verbal history, and Malibu Rising utilized the present-day Riva gang as the focal point to jump back and forth in time to fill in the missing pieces of the story. With her unique writing style, common tropes, and unique time fixations (all of her pieces are “period” pieces focusing on different decades), Reid’s work is sure to be in the lexicon for years to come. Her messages are timeless, her characters are flawed but deeply lovable, and her writing regularly brings her readers to tears. Malibu Rising is another book to add to your shelf the moment you see it in stores. No matter your background, Reid’s writing is relatable and impactful to its readers.

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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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Books I Read In May | 2021

Kimberly — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 13:00:35 +0000

Happy June! I read such a wide variety of books in May, and I powered through a few library reads that I really enjoyed. From the number one book on TikTok to a local author’s first published work, I read seven books in May. Let’s get started! one | In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — Audiobook Dani has it all figured out. Down the specific day she will get married, she’s been mapping out her life since the moment it came crashing down. But, on the night of her engagement, everything changes. She’s somehow transported five years into the future, and she’s not with her new fiancé, but a stranger. When she wakes up back in 2015, Dani can’t shake the feeling that something is horribly wrong. This was overall, a really cute story with the well-known troupe of possibly falling for your best friend’s guy, but I can’t shake the feeling that some details just weren’t as fleshed out as they should have been. Reader’s barely learn about Dani’s brother’s accident, and she keeps forgetting details in the beginning of the book that felt like it would lead to something bigger. Maybe it was just a red herring, but I’m a little turned off by the forgotten details. 4/5 Stars two | 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. 5/5 Stars three | Lunch with Lucy by Sherry Stewart Deutschmann Sherry Stewart Deutschmann is a local entrepreneur in Nashville, and her book did not disappoint. From the format with quotes and “takeout boxes” of vital information to the stories she shared, everything about this book spoke to me. If you’re looking to learn about the empathetic business model, there is no better book than Lunch with Lucy. 5/5 Stars four | From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout Poppy is destined to save her kingdom when her Ascension comes, but before then, she’s determined to live, even if it’s just a little bit. When Hawke, a mysterious Royal Guard, comes in her life, everything changes for Poppy. No longer does she pace the castle quietly and sneak off to defend her land, now she basically has a shadow who only wants to keep her safe, but at what cost? It’s hard to describe this book without ruining some of the twists and exciting moments, but trust me, it’s worth every bit of hype it’s received online. 5/5 Stars five | Untamed by Glennon Doyle I feel like I say this about every memoir I read, but boy, did this one hit me where it hurts. Glennon and I have a lot in common, more than I’d like to admit when it comes to our need to control, but I truly loved this book. It’s odd because most people wouldn’t think that they could relate to a famous writer who left her husband to marry a famous soccer player, but Untamed is further proof that underneath the shine, people are just people. We all have our quirks and flaws that unite us as human. I was skeptical when I first started this book, but Doyle’s writing builds and grows with the reader and hopefully, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be taking photos of passages in the book and sending them to your boyfriend because you relate to them so much. 5/5 Stars six | Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow — Audiobook I’ve been itching to read Alexander Hamilton since my obsession with the musical set in, and when I found it in audio form through my library, I knew I had to give it a listen. I had no idea it was going to be 35 hours. This was a daunting listen — I typically only listen to 30-45 minutes of a book a day, so I knew this was going to take me awhile. But between library hold wait times and being a “slow” listener, I finally did it! Chernow goes into incredible detail, and I learned more than I thought possible after giving this a listen. Admittedly, I missed a lot of details just due to the nature of my brain, but it was a valuable book to listen to. I think I’ll still be buying myself a copy and reading it little by little when I can to get the full experience. The perfect book to learn more about Hamilton as well as the other historical men from that time. 4/5 Stars seven | 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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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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Books I Read in April | 2021

Kimberly — Mon, 03 May 2021 13:00:34 +0000

Happy May! April wasn’t my best month for reading — between traveling and taking on some new responsibilities, some reading tip was chewed up by other activities, but I’m still proud of everything I read. From an antiracist book to an advanced reader copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest work, I read a lot of wide-ranging works this month. Let’s get started! one | Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi — Audiobook This abridged version of Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi edited and presented by Jason Reynolds is approachable, informative, and impactful. I’ve read many an antiracist book in the last year, and this selection presented new information in a clear, concise way that left me thinking about my own prejudices and racism. No rating two | Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid — ARC, E-Book 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. This story is full of twists that yank at your heart, and it is un-putdown-able. 5/5 Stars three | The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert Alice and her mother Ella have always been followed by bad luck. Everywhere they went, something always went wrong. They blame their grandmother and mother, Althea Proserpine, the famous author of the dark fairy tales set in the Hinterwood. One day, when Alice finally thinks the bad luck has stopped, her mother is taken from her, and she must trust the one person she knows who has any knowledge of her grandmother and her fictitious world that may be plaguing Alice. A fun story with a few twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. 3/5 Stars four | Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Ravka has been torn in half by the Shadow Fold, and now, it’s up to an unassuming girl, Alina Starkov, to save the nation. When Alina finds out she has hidden abilities that may be able to save her nation, she is whisked away to become a member of the royal court. While there, she is trained to be a Grisha, a member of the magical elite, and she is accepted by one of the most powerful people in the court, the Darkling. But of course, everything is not as it seems, and when Alina is warned against trusting the one she loves, she must run for her life. This is a fun, exciting young adult novel that has just enough magic and romance to keep you interested and entertained. I’m excited to read the rest of the series. 5/5 Stars five | 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. 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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