What I'm Reading | March + April

Know My Name: A Memior | by Chanel Miller

5/5 stars

[Goodreads Excerpt: She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford’s campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral–viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways–there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life.]

This is a very difficult read and gives an uncensored perspective on not only being a victim of sexual assault, but being the victim in a case so well known. This book gave me a whole new sense of compassion and understanding along with deep sadness and grief for the way our court systems work. Chanel Miller is an incredibly gifted writer and holds nothing back. You WILL feel uncomfortable reading this, but that's a good thing. 

Such a Fun Age | by Kiely Reid

4/5 stars

[Goodreads Excerpt: Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living showing other women how to do the same. A mother to two small girls, she started out as a blogger and has quickly built herself into a confidence-driven brand. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains’ toddler one night. Seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, a security guard at their local high-end supermarket accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make it right. But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix’s desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix’s past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.]

I listened to Reid's debut novel, also a Reese's bookclub pick, on audio and really enjoyed the narrator. So much that I finished this one in 2 days over the weekend! The writing is super easy-to-follow and is just simply a good story. I like the way it approaches certain racial + class issues in a way that's subtle and woven into the story. I only give it 4 stars instead of 5 because the ending didn't really sit right with me, however the story overall is a fun one. 

The Giver of Stars | by Jojo Moyes

5/5 stars

[Goodreads Excerpt: Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically. The leader, and soon Alice’s greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who’s never asked a man’s permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. What happens to them–and to the men they love–becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.]

I truly, truly adored this historical fiction novel. The characters are those that you miss once it's over and you find yourself wanting to open the pages again to talk to them. You hurt when they hurt and you laugh when they laugh. The characters in this novel are ones you want to root for and see make it through their struggles. This book tackles what it means to be a woman during this time period I really loved this one and will be recommending it strongly to everyone that wants a book rec from me this year! 

David and Goliath | by Malcolm Gladwell

3/5 stars

[Goodreads Excerpt: Malcolm Gladwell has explored the ways we understand and change our world. Now he looks at the complex and surprising ways the weak can defeat the strong, the small can match up against the giant, and how our goals (often culturally determined) can make a huge difference in our ultimate sense of success. Drawing upon examples from the world of business, sports, culture, cutting-edge psychology, and an array of unforgettable characters around the world, David and Goliath is in many ways the most practical and provocative book Malcolm Gladwell has ever written.]

I always appreciate Malcolm Gladwell's perspective and sporadically listen to his podcast, Revisionist History. I really liked his book Outliers, but this one was just - meh. I loved the idea behind it: underdogs, success from someone you least expect it, etc. The first half engaged me but by the end I just lost interest and felt like the writing was super repetitive. Gladwell is incredibly intelligent and I love listening to him audibly as a storyteller, but this one just didn't do it for me.

What I'm Reading | Summer 2019

Trying to breathe some life back into the blog. ;)

Since Riser Boy was born in February, I've had more time to read (thanks to nursing) and wanted to share some of my favorites of the Spring/Summer. 

The Storied Life of AJ Fikery

I adored this book. I ugly cried while reading this book. I laughed hard while reading this book. Any novel with a grumpy old man that takes place in a small-town bookstore is one I cannot refuse. This book had so many quotable phrases and the writing of Zevin sucked me in from page one. If you like stories where the characters become like friends and family in a way that makes you want to pack your bags to travel to where they are, pick this one up.

5/5 stars

Recursion

This book was so worth the summer hype. It was just published in June and followed Crouch's previous huge novel hit, Dark Matter, which you should for sure read if you haven't. Recursion is a sci-fi novel (don't let me lose you here) that shows what can happen when we have the ability to go back into a memory in our life and change it, for better or for worse. It's mind-bending, dramatic, and fast-paced. Blake Crouch is a wizard with eerie, futuristic topics and this novel isn't one to be missed.

5/5 stars

Daisy Jones & the Six

This was a hot book this summer, and I can see why. I listened on audio (which I would recommend). It was both an Oprah's book club + Reese's book club pick, too. If you care about that sort of thing. The novel is written entirely in an interview-format, and zeroes in on a fictional 70s rock band called The Six, telling their story of their beginning and breakup. Daisy is a young girl who desperately wants connection with others, she's neglected by her busy + wealthy parents, and finally gets noticed for her voice. She grows up to be an absolute icon, yet has so much brokenness behind the scenes and off the stage.

4/5 stars

What I'm Reading | July + August

Educated: A Memoir  |  Tara Westover

[goodreads excerpt]:  An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, intentionally kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

This is easily the best memoir I've read. It kept me totally engaged until the very end and was incredibly fascinating. Tara was raised in the mountains in a Mormon survivalist family, and she spends her childhood preparing for the end of the world + working in the junkyard with her father or helping her herbalist/midwife mother. She doesn't enter a classroom until the age of 17 and finds out about events such as the Holocaust for the first time in a college classroom. It's a story that keeps you thinking, "Wow" the entire time and Tara has a way with words and a gift of storytelling.

5/5 stars

The Hazel Wood  |  Melissa Albert

[goodreads excerpt]:  Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

This book was such a fun read. If you like a mix of fairy tales, real world, interesting relationships, secrets, and darkness, this is for you. I really enjoyed the spin off of the traditional fantasy novels and am looking forward to reading book 2!

4.5/5 stars

Us Against You (Beartown #2)  |  Fredrik Backman

[goodreads excerpt]:  After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach. As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

I LOVED the first book in this 2-novel series, Beartown, so I knew I'd love the second. I am not a hockey fan, but the author has an amazing gift of writing that pulls you in from the first sentence of the first page. I love sequels and getting to relive the stories of familiar characters again. These two novels cover big topics that make you think, and Backman is simply an amazing writer.

4.5/5 stars

What I'm Reading | April + May

Echo | Pam Munoz Ryan

I listened to this on audiobook and would for sure recommend reading it that way. I loved the way that all the stories and characters, who could not seem more opposite, weaved together to one powerful moment. I enjoyed how I didn't see how the characters intertwined until the end of the novel. It's a mix of historical fiction and fantasy, which I know, those genres do not go together whatsoever. But trust me--it'll make sense when you read it. 

[goodreads excerpt]: Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.
Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.

4.5/5 stars

The Magician's Nephew | C.S. Lewis

I've always been a fan of C.S. Lewis' writing, and lately I decided to start listening through the Chronicles of Narnia in chronological order. I've only read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (forever ago) so I wanted to swing back and reread them all in order. The narrator is fantastic and truly brings the story to life. I love how much this fantasy story reflects the gospel in such intricate ways. I love Lewis' writing, the way he brings the characters to life and makes you so absorbed in the story as if you were there. The first book explains how Narnia was created and gives a backstory of the characters in the 2nd book. If you haven't read through the whole series, do it along with me. :) 

[goodreads excerpt]: NARNIA...where the woods are thick and cold, where Talking Beasts are called to life...a new world where the adventure begins. Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory's Uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician, sends them hurtling to...somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion's song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home. 

5/5 stars

What I'm Reading | February + March

This should more be titled, "What I'm Listening To", as I've been on an audiobook kick lately. Since we've moved my commute is a little bit longer, so I get a solid hour and 10 minutes on driving in a day (35 minutes each way). Here's a bit of what I've been reading and listening to..

If You Only Knew | Jamie Ivey

Now this one I actually read. I really enjoyed it. It was a super fast read and I love Jamie's transparency. I listen to her podcast, The Happy Hour, faithfully each week so I feel like I already 'knew' a lot of her story. I will say some parts got a little redundant for me, but overall it was a great testimony of God's grace and finding true freedom in the Gospel of Christ. 

4/5 stars

[goodreads excerpt]: What if you knew all the moments of my past that I am not proud of? What if you really knew me, the messy parts that I’ve hoped to forget and worked hard to conceal? For so long, my greatest fear was what you might think of me if you only knew the whole story. It’s exhausting, this guarding of our stories and struggles. Fear of being found out had caused me to hide—but I wasn’t just covering my flaws, I was unintentionally blocking the beauty of God’s grace. My journey to real freedom began when I quit running from my mess and started trusting Jesus to make something beautiful of it. 

Heartless | Marissa Meyer

This fictional novel was such a fun read. The author puts her own spin on the story of the Queen of Hearts and gives readers a look into the past of what happened before the story we all know. I listened to this one on audiobook and would HIGHLY recommend reading it that way. The narrator was so  fantastic, and I think it would've taken me far longer to finish it if I was taking the time to read it. 

5/5 stars

[goodreads excerpt]: Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen. Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Water For Elephants | Sara Gruen

I listened to this one on audiobook, and the story was well-told and well-written. I wouldn't say it was my favorite, and it did feel a little long at times. Some parts of it were a little raunchy, but it was good story-telling with a very interesting a well thought out plot for sure with an unpredictable ending (which I always like). I think when I hear really good things about a novel, my expectations get a bit too high and I'm let down after it's over. 

3.5/5 stars

[goodreads excerpt]: When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. 

The Vanderbeeker's of 141st Street | Karina Yan Glasser

This charming novel was so cute. It is considered children's/middle grade lit but I just loved it. I fell in love with the quirky characters and storyline so much that I read it to my class. We reached out to the author on Twitter and she send us some bookmarks in the mail and my students are in the process of writing to her to let her know what they thought of the book! So fun. That's why I love the power of social media. The five children in the novel are truly hilarious and fun to read about, and I would recommend this book for any age reader.

5/5 stars

[goodreads excerpt]: The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.

What I'm Reading | January

Beartown | Fredrik Backman

Never did I think I would obsessively read a book about hockey, but here I am. I suppose I should say that Beartown isn't about hockey, but about the people who play and live their lives around hockey. I loved the setting of this story: a small town community deep within a forest where everything around it seems to not exist. When I finished this book, it took me awhile to process. I love Backman's writing as it poetically flows from page to page, chapter to chapter, where you're reading and you suddenly realize it's been two hours and you've lost track of time. This novel takes on deep and controversial topics and plays them out in a way that grips the reader and makes you think about what you would do in these situations. I can definitely say this wasn't a predictable novel, and it's one you should for sure pick up on cold day when you feel like escaping. 

From GoodReads:

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.

5/5 stars

What I'm Reading | August + September

Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. But when the Second World War strikes, Antoine is sent off to fight and Vianne finds herself isolated so Isabelle is sent by their father to help her. As the war progresses, the sisters' relationship and strength are tested. With life changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Vianne and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions.

THIS BOOK. Truly, one of the best books I've read in a long time. I love historical fiction, especially when it's so well written. If you don't love historical fiction, read this book anyway. Kristin Hannah's novel tells a story of two women during the war that were resilient and were forced to make unimaginably tough decisions. I think I enjoyed it so much because I could see myself in both main characters, although they were so opposite. Vianne retreated to her comforts and didn't want to stir any pots around her, so she hid in the background to protect herself. All while Isabelle embraced her inner-rebel and fought back recklessly against what she knew was so clearly wrong around her, even if it means putting her life in utter danger. It's a story of bravery, strength, and finding life out of complete hopelessness. MUST read.

5/5 stars

Eve in Exile sets aside all stereotypes of mid-century housewives, of China-doll femininity, of Victorians fainting, of women not allowed to think for themselves or talk to the men about anything interesting or important. It dismisses the pencil-skirted and stiletto-heeled executives of TV, the outspoken feminists freed from all that hinders them, the brave career women in charge of their own destinies. Once those fictionalized stereotypes are out of the way—whether they're things that make you gag or things you think look pretty fun—Christians can focus on real women. What did God make real women for?

I just recently borrowed this critically relevant book from my librarian-saint Lindsay, and as I've just finished it I'm still processing. Rebekah Merkle presents a Christian perspective on feminism, while also giving readers a history of how today's culture of feminism evolved. The history was very fascinating, and her tone in the book is less than gentle. You can tell she's passionate on the subject and speaks her truth well. I can't say I agree with 100% of the things Merkle writes on the topic, but I can say I appreciate a Christian woman speaking so honestly and bluntly on the topic of true womanhood in Christ. We have true purpose--kingdom-purpose--and it needs to be discussed in the light of Jesus.

4/5 stars

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside. Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed. Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother. Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel.

I love a good mystery that captivates me and forces me to finish it in no time. This one is filled with plot twists and as soon as you think you've got it figured out a new moment leaves you back clueless. The characters in this book aren't the most likeable, and every character seems to have baggage and trauma following them. There are a few super dark and eery themes/moments in this novel, but I did still enjoy it as it kept me on the edge of my seat like a good mystery should. 

4/5 stars

Children's Lit Recommendations

Anyone who knows me well knows that it's a life long dream of mine to team up with an incredible illustrator and write/publish a children's book. Any takers? :) Beautiful illustrations and powerful words make children's books more than just for kids.

There have been moments when I've read an incredible book to my class, and they've literally given a standing ovation because they loved the book so much. (it's hilarious, but amazing at the same time) Children's books have brought tears to both my students and my eyes while we read. They can hold powerful messages and themes that are meaningful for all ages, and can help us understand the world around us in creative ways. I'll forever have an obsession with them and plan on regularly sharing my faves. :)

This book teaches readers to have a new outlook on things, and shows that creativity looks different in everyone. It's so charming, and I love the illustrations.

The book says it all. This book is hilarious, punny, and so cute. 

(disclaimer: I know I said I adore illustrations, but this book is so hilarious and will make ANY child, and adult, peel over in laughter. I don't care who you are, you'll laugh.)

Peter Reynolds holds my heart for children's books. He's for sure a favorite classic author/illustrator of mine. Anything by him is fantastic.

I love the message of this book. It goes through thirteen amazing american women who changed our world for the better. It's inspiring to read to young girls to show them that they are capable of great things, no matter the challenges they have and will face.

Without further adieu, my current FAVORITE mini-series. I love Andrea Beaty's books featuring Rosie, Iggy, and Ada. These characters are so fun, and promote creativity and perseverance. They are perfect read alouds to come back to over and over again.

What I'm Reading | June + July

At Home in the World | Tsh Oxenreider

In her late thirties and as a mom to three kids under age ten, Tsh Oxenreider and her husband decided to spend a rather ordinary nine months in an extraordinary way: traveling the corners of the earth to see, together, the places they’ve always wanted to explore. This book chronicles their global journey from China to Thailand to Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, France, Croatia, and beyond, as they fill their days with train schedules, world-schooling the kids, and working from anywhere. Told with wit and candor, Oxenreider invites us on a worldwide adventure without the cost of a ticket; to discover people, places, and stories worth knowing about; to find peace in the places we call home; and to learn that, as the Thai say, in the end, we are all “same same but different.”

This memoir made me want to pick up and travel the world, yet at the same time inspired me to see that life doesn't always have to come to a complete halt once you start a family, as our culture often implies. Each chapter is divided by country traveled, and is written as a narrative that's easy to read and draws you in with every word. Plus, I'm always a sucker for a beautiful cover.

A Man Called Ove | Fredrik Backman

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Backman's writing in this novel presents a man who seems unlovable on the outside, and creates a feeling where the reader ends up finding him funny and endearing. This book made me think about my interactions with others, question things that our culture finds value in, and made me relate to Ove with every word of sarcasm and wit.

Dark Matter | Blake Crouch

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.
This novel made me feel incredibly small and definitely gave the I-have-to-know-what-happens-next feeling while reading. I wouldn't consider "sci-fi" books in my genre preference, but this book was gripping and compelling and unlike any novel I've ever read. This book is a love story, thriller, and sci-fi book wrapped all in one and makes you think about who you are, where you come from, and what you want for your life. There's a lot going on in this novel and it's packed with inspirational quotes, emotional + dramatic scenes, and plenty of surprises.

The Mothers | Brit Bennett

All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season. It is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, seventeen-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother's recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor's son. Luke Sheppard is twenty-one, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it's not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance--and the subsequent cover-up--will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth. As Nadia hides her secret from everyone, including Aubrey, her God-fearing best friend, the years move quickly. Soon, Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey are full-fledged adults and still living in debt to the choices they made that one seaside summer, caught in a love triangle they must carefully maneuver, and dogged by the constant, nagging question: What if they had chosen differently? The possibilities of the road not taken are a relentless haunt.

This novel is set in a contemporary African-American community and Bennett's writing is impeccable. Nadia is a character that you ache for the whole way through and the novel has themes of love of many kinds: romantic, friendship, and maternal. It's easy to see why this novel created such a buzz over the past year, as the characters felt real and dynamic and I did not want to put this book down.

Bridge to Haven | Francine Rivers

To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua--Abra's closest friend--watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking bad boy who proclaims his love and lures her to Tinseltown. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what's expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at an awful price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now, all she wants is a way back home.

This book was riveting + heart-wrenching at gripped me from start to finish. This novel is inspired by Ezekiel 16 and tells a story of tragedy, rebellion, grace, and redemption. To be honest, I usually avoid Christian fiction because I often find it cheesy, predictable, and unrealistic. However, Rivers is one of the only Christian authors that seems to reel me in, and she definitely does that with this book.