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The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett Featuring: twin sisters Stella and Desiree, who last saw each other as teenagers when they fled the Louisiana hometown where their father had been lynched.
Over the years: Stella has built a life for herself in which everyone, including her husband, believes her to be white; Desiree is the mother of a daughter so dark-skinned the hometown gossips stare.
Why you should read it: Spanning decades (from the 1940s to the 1990s), this is a compassionately drawn tale of family, colorism, and identity. | |
Sex and Vanity
by
Kevin Kwan
What happens: When George, the man with whom she had a brief fling several years earlier, unexpectedly appears in East Hampton, newly engaged Lucie Churchill is drawn to him again and spins a web of deceit in an attempt to block him from her life – and her heart.
Who should read it: Fans of gossipy, high-drama stories of the rich and famous, like Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.
Publishers Weekly called it: "an intoxicating, breezy update of E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View."
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Broken People by Sam Lansky What it's about: an L.A. writer (also named Sam) who visits a Portland shaman and, under the influence of ayahuasca, comes to grips with his past, especially his poor treatment of the men in his life.
Why you might like it: messy relationships and choices later regretted are things most readers have experienced; they're portrayed here with humor and compassion.
About the author: Sam Lansky has also written a memoir about his own struggles with addiction as a teen, The Gilded Razor. | |
Mexican Gothic
by
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
What it is: The top pick on the June 2020 LibraryReads list, this reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel follows the experiences of a courageous socialite in 1950s Mexico who is drawn into the treacherous secrets of an isolated mansion.
Who might enjoy it: Fans of atmospheric, creepy tales with strong female characters, such as Danielle Trussoni's The Ancestor or Ruth Ware's The Death of Mrs. Westaway.
Also by this author: Gods of Jade and Shadow
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The Sight of You by Holly Miller Starring: Joel, whose literally prophetic dreams about loved ones has him swearing off new relationships; and Callie, the barista he can't resist.
What happens: Soon enough, Joel and Callie have fallen in love, but when Joel dreams of her death, will they be able to handle the knowledge?
Why you might like it: Alternating perspectives puts readers in both Joel and Callie's shoes in what is ultimately both a sad and uplifting tale. | | What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons Starring: Thandi, the U.S.-raised daughter of a mixed-race mother from South Africa and an African American father.
What it's about: The death of Thandi's mother propels the novel -- in a life shaped by not-belonging, the loss of her mother threatens to overwhelm Thandi as she deals with an unplanned pregnancy.
Why you might like it: This collage-like debut features short chapters punctuated by photographs and other ephemera, and Thandi's family, at home and in post-apartheid Johannesburg, offers a nuanced exploration of race and privilege. | |
What We Become
by
Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Starring: Mecha, a gorgeous high-society woman, and Max, a masterful and elegant thief.
What happens: En route from Lisbon to Buenos Aires in 1928, Max teaches the stunning Mecha and her erudite husband to dance the tango, igniting a steamy, secret affair.
And then: Spanish spies and the KGB drive Max back to Mecha's arms time and again in a bittersweet, richly rendered portrait of a powerful, forbidden love story that burns brightly over forty years.
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What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand What happens: In this engaging novel (a follow-up to Winter in Paradise), Irene Steel faces up to her late husband's double life, and finds herself returning to St. John -- perhaps for good.
Why you might like it: As in the best escapist fiction featuring wealthy families, the beach (and accompanying Steel villa) is beautiful, secrets are around every corner, and there are romantic entanglements aplenty.
What you need to know: the 3rd in the series, Troubles in Paradise, is coming this October. | | What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi What it is: a "beguiling" (Booklist) collection of stories that read like modern fairy tales or folklore: there are echoes of Pinocchio in "Is Your Blood as Red as This?"; "Dornicka and the St. Martin's Day Goose" is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Why you might like it: Along with striking imagery and surreal occurrences, a theme of locks and keys winds throughout the loosely connected stories, which offer a diverse array of characters, each seeking something they may never be able to find. | | What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross Twenty-one years ago: Lucy stole a baby and passed her off as adopted. Now, 21-year-old Mia has discovered the truth of her origins and is refusing to speak to Lucy, who has fled to avoid prosecution.
But: Lucy was a kind and loving mom; Mia finds herself torn, even as she reaches out to her birth mother -- it's not that easy to step into a new role as "Natalie," daughter of Marilyn.
Why you might like it: Multiple perspectives round out a thoughtful story of family, love, and loss. | |
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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