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| When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd BanwoStarring: Yejide, a young woman able to guide souls to their afterlives, and Darwin, a Rasta grave digger whose family is tormented by his unusual job.
Love and death intertwine... in atmospheric descriptions of Trinidad and Tobago that somehow capture both the sobering realties and magical possibilities of living there.
Also available in eAudiobook on CloudLibrary |
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| Glory by NoViolet BulawayoShades of Animal Farm: Readers familiar with George Orwell's novel that embodies humanity's ills in animal forms will quickly relate to this similarly trenchant, anthropomorphic satire set in a fictional African country beset by corruption, violence, and tyranny.
What it is: An updated, thought-provoking take on the power of the people versus unjust leaders, as well as the inevitable costs -- and potential rewards -- of revolution.
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| Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh ChouIntroducing: Taiwanese American PhD student Ingrid Yang, writing her dissertation about a revered Chinese American poet while being basically ready to chew off her own leg if it means escaping the academic world.
What happens: Ingrid discovers a secret that will send shockwaves through the scholarly community, every relationship in Ingrid's life, and her own personal sense of self. Thankfully, there are more laughs than you might expect in this authentic depiction of being a woman (much less a POC) cracking the code of academia. |
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| Vagabonds! by Eloghosa OsundeThe background: In 2014, Nigeria enacted a law that makes being LGBTQIA a criminal offense punishable by torture and imprisonment
What it's about: Spiritual presences observe and describe the lives of characters pushed the fringes of Nigerian society. They also nudge along events -- but whether for good or ill remains unclear.
Want a taste? "I can see now that, together, vagabonds are the city’s power. We’re its charge and circuit. It cannot exist without us." |
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| The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. SmithWhat it's about: After her mother dies suddenly from a blood clot, indie singer-songwriter Greta rushes home to her father and promptly has a nervous breakdown. Nursing their mutual resentments, they go on the luxury cruise her parents had previously booked for their 40th wedding anniversary.
Read it for: A moving exploration of grief and family members trying to build new relationships in its wake. |
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| The Marriage Pass by Briana ColeThe backstory: Shantae and Dorian go way back -- over ten years, during which Shantae remains loyal despite Dorian's frequent infidelities.
Hot stuff: Now a professionally successful (and mutually faithful) married couple, Shantae surprises Dorian on their first anniversary a unique "gift": a one-night "pass" to have a no-holds-barred, no questions asked, guilt-free night of passion with whomever he chooses. Delighted Dorian accepts of course, with no clue just how costly this gift may prove.
Also available in eBook & eAudiobook on Hoopla |
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| Blind Ambition by Lutishia LovelyIntroducing: Estranged sisters Jett (an aging superstar in Hollywood whose fame is fading) and Chantal (thirty-ish, a single mom and amateur jazz singer making ends meet in small-town Missouri).
What happens: After their mother's sudden death, Chantal resolves to kick-start a closer relationship with Jett. Jett, however, is far more invested in making a big comeback.
The twist: An unknown blackmailer threatens to expose scandalous family secrets, forcing the sisters into a reluctant alliance.
Read it for An authentic portrait of sibling rivalry that does not mince words, and a story that ultimately affirms family relationships over personal ambitions. |
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| Single Black Female by Tracy BrownStarring: Long-time friends Ivy, Coco, Deja, and Deja's younger sister Nikki who remain close despite their very different ideas of Black female identity and "success." All are too familiar with the challenges of being in love with incarcerated (or otherwise unavailable) men.
Tensions boil over: Ivy's youngest son becomes entangled in a divisive police encounter. Deja's husband is an NYPD sergeant; the situation forces all characters involved to uphold -- or walk away from -- their deeply held beliefs. |
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| The Perfect Ruin by Shanora WilliamsVengeance is mine: Twenty-something Ivy finally learns who destroyed her childhood: the ultra-rich (seemingly philanthropic) social media maven Lola Maxwell. Ivy elbows her way into Lola's jet-set and puts her plan into action.
Anything they want, they get. What Ivy wants? To destroy all that Lola holds dear. The exact reason why -- and just how far Ivy will go -- unfold slowly in this twisty blend of psychological and romantic suspense. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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