Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher: Though I don’t indulge in romance often (except when I need a palette cleanser between heavier books), I couldn’t put down Love Redesigned. Asher’s novel follows Julian Lopez and Dahlia Muñoz, two locals from the small town of Lake Wisteria, who share a complicated past. While their families are close, these childhood rivals attempt to best each other in every academic activity. After a failed romantic relationship in college, Dahlia throws her energy into her career as a renowned interior designer. Meanwhile, Julian remains in Lake Wisteria to build his career as a house flipper. When Dahlia returns to Lake Wisteria after a failed engagement, Julian attempts to avoid her as he sorts through his complicated feelings. However, there’s nowhere to go in a small town. Love Redesigned is a great book to bring to the beach or a park and read cover to cover. You’ll soon become immersed in Julian and Dahlia’s complicated history, sometimes giggling and kicking your feet at the corny romantic elements. Remember, the best way to enjoy a romance novel is to succumb to its cheesiness.
The Night Ship by Jess Kidd: This historical fiction parallels plot lines from two different years: 1629 and 1989. Kidd alternates timelines as we follow a young girl named Mayken and a boy named Gil. In 1629, Mayken is newly orphaned and hops onto a ship bound for the Dutch East Indies to meet her father, who abandoned her mother and her before she was born. Mayken wanders below the depths of the deck and investigates the existence of a mythical monster, eventually discovering many of them. In 1989, Gil gets sent to live with his grandfather off the coast of Australia when his mother dies. While living on the island, Gil uncovers a story about a mysterious shipwreck. He meets a crew of archaeologists searching for relics from the crash site. Kidd weaves the two narratives together to create a fun, refreshing read.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd: In the Cartographers a young woman named Nell Young inherits an extreme passion for cartography from her father. After an argument over an old gas station highway map, they vow to never speak to each other again. When Nell discovers her father’s murder, it sends her down an obsessive path to uncover the mystery. She learns that the cheap, dusty gas station map they fought over was priceless and connected to his death. The further Nell digs, the more she uncovers, and the more it leads to dark family secrets hiding beneath the surface. Her journey unearths startling discoveries. Each step unravels family mysteries that connect to her deceased mother.
True Biz by Sara Novic: I recently read true Biz and found it entertaining and educationally valuable. Sara Novic’s novel follows three characters who reside at a boarding school for the deaf: Charlie, a teenage girl transplanted from the public school system; Austin, the school’s “golden boy;” and February, the school’s headmistress who has a deep personal connection to the school, which puts a strain on her marriage. The author interweaves these characters seamlessly, creating interesting plot dynamics. Charlie enters the school from a less-than-helpful public school system. She is linked to Austin through February to help her learn about the campus. One thing I loved about this book was February is both headmistress and teacher. So, the curriculum gets woven throughout. For instance, between some chapters, there are mini-lessons about deaf culture, which mirrors what February is teaching the students. Not only was this fun as a formatting element, but it was a great learning experience. The book dives into the controversy of cochlear implants, which I had no idea were so controversial. Reading about how society impacts the deaf community was fascinating, and I loved learning about Deaf culture. •
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