| A Spell of Good Things by Ayobami AdébáyoMeet: Eniolá, a teen embittered by poverty and his parents' favoritism toward his sisters; and Wúràolá, a doctor from a wealthy family who becomes engaged to the son of a local power broker.
What happens: Wealth, power, political corruption, and gender inequality in modern-day Nigeria set the protagonists on a collision course for violence and tragedy.
Try this next: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. |
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| The Unfortunates by J. K.ChukwuWhat happens: Queer, Black, and supremely self-aware Sahara melts down during her sophomore year at Elite University. Why? Institutional racism, body issues, an unrequited crush, lack of family support -- oh, and the "unfortunate" fate of several Black peers (murder, suicide, disappearance).
Read it for: a zingy coming-of-age story creatively structured as imaginary thesis chapters (labelled "tracks" like a musical album) with chats, emails, and the occasional black and white illustrations thrown in. |
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| The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan ChurchWhat happens: Impoverished and fatherless in 1930s rural North Carolina,14-year-old Leah is whisked away to Charlotte by a well-off family. The state's recently established eugenics board deems her "feeble minded" when she is less than docile.
Is it for you? The eugenics movement -- driven by negative biases about race, gender, and class -- forced medical procedures upon thousands of vulnerable individuals until the 1970s. Due to its subject matter, this novel packs emotional wallop akin to Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, alth |
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| At Sea by Emma FedorWhat happens: A young woman's romance with a former soldier, who claims he was trained to breathe underwater, leads to marriage, a child -- and devastation when he disappears with their son.
Read it for: a genre-defying debut with mesmerizing characters, whose experiences of love, loss, and personal evolution are narrated across past and present.
For fans of: Diane Chamberlain and Sally Hepworth. |
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| Your Driver is Waiting by Priya GunsWhat it's about: Damani, gig driver for an unnamed ride-share company, spends her free time at a hangout for artists and activists. A meet-cute moment sparks a romance with a wealthy white woman (not Damani's usual type) who seems to share the same social justice values...at first.
Read it for: "rich commentary on gig work, race, and white privilege" (Publishers Weekly); a kick-ass protagonist with a "ferocious heart" who is "a lover and a fighter, start to finish" (Booklist). |
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| American Mermaid by Julia LangbeinWhat happens: Penny goes to Hollywood after her best-selling feminist novel -- in which a woman falls into the ocean and discovers she's a mermaid -- is slated for a splashy film adaptation.
Reeled in: Studio execs turn Penny's asexual mermaid protagonist into a super-sexy action goddess. Penny becomes increasingly unsure of where she stands (or swims) when events in the script start happening in real life.
Read it for: a witty, metafictional satire of publishing and filmmaking. |
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| The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzieBuckle up: Penny Rush has had a rough few years. Her parents disappeared in the Australian Outback. Her marriage failed. Her gun-toting granny nearly landed in protective custody. Next thing you know, Penny's on the road with an accountant and his Pomeranian, Kweecoats.
Reviewers say: "This whirlwind tale has heart to spare" (Publishers Weekly).
For fans of: un-put-downable stories about imminently likeable, offbeat characters on madcap adventures. |
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| The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen OakleyRoad trip! A sweet little old lady and a disgraced college athlete wind up on the lam together in this surprisingly suspenseful, funny, and heartwarming story of intergenerational friendship.
Plot twist: One of them is a jewel thief who pulled off a major heist (hint: it happened in 1975).
Looking for: other amusingly mismatched road buddies? Try The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan or Lost & Found by Brooke Davis.
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| Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill SantopoloGenoa, 1948: Star-crossed lovers -- a tailor's daughter and a duke's son -- are caught up in political events that alter Italy's history.
New York, 2017: Lovebirds Luca and Cassandra discover long-buried secrets connecting their families and the consequences could derail their perfect wedding plans forever.
Read it for: "A romantic, sweeping story that's satisfying and heartbreaking at the same time" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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