READ IF…

…you want to be left speechless

Shadows of Pecan Hollow by Caroline Frost

This brand new release of 2022  is perfect for lovers of  the well known Where The Crawdads Sing. Set in the 1970s and 1990s in East Texas, it follows a Texaco Twosome committing robberies and running from the law. At thirteen years old, Kit was abducted and groomed by a man named Manny. After their wild criminal adventures, she escapes, and he shows up at her doorstep a decade later. This is a penetrating, unexpected, and tender novel about love, vulnerability, and family.

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim 

The story is told by eyewitnesses whose reliability is incredibly problematic. Everyone is lying to protect someone or themselves. Angie Kim assembles their stories into an intricate portrait of loss as well as a weary pursuit for justice. She allows readers to be immersed in the different perspectives of each character before detailing what was said in the courtroom. There are explored themes of identity and family loyalty with discussions on Autism, which played a role in many characters’ lives.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

This captivating thriller follows the story of two people during the COVID-19 lockdown. If you want a book with a plot twist, and about a hundred more, this one's for you. Take everything you thought you knew about a person and throw it out the window. Everyone has secrets to keep which are forced to be found when in the midst of a quarantine mandate. 

…you want your heart ripped out of your chest

Bright Side by Kim Holden

Bright Side isn’t just a story you read, it’s a story you live. Absolutely nothing will prepare you for what happens in this book. The main character, Kate, is the most lovable female character. It is easy to understand why her best friend, Gus, gave her the nickname "Bright Side". She is the type of person that lights up a room and makes friends with everyone she meets. This book certainly did not lack a strong cast of supporting characters, who are each so endearing in their own way.

Full Tilt by Emma Scott

This book will remind you to make each and every day count and make you hug the ones you love just a little bit tighter.  Kacey and Jonah form a friendship where they both realize that there is more to life and the universe. Jonah helped Kacey realize that she should fulfill her dreams while Kacey helped Jonah realize that he never felt true love until he met her. 

…you want to be inspired

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This novel is an incredible story of a 16-year-old girl named Starr, who witnessed her childhood best friend Khalil being killed by a cop, and how she deals with the aftermath. It will open your eyes to realize the continuing day-to-day actuality of racism in America. We see, through Starr's eyes, how the media presents young black men as guilty until proven innocent. The Hate U Give isn’t just powerful and unforgettable, but heart-warming and inspiring. 

Educated by Tara Westover

Tara was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. This memoir is a remembering of family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. Bill Gates says, “I thought I was pretty good at teaching myself—until I read Tara Westover’s memoir Educated. Her ability to learn on her own blows mine right out of the water.” Tara’s father had severe paranoia and tells a fascinating and heartbreaking story of the family dynamics’ shift as Tara’s aspirations developed and were achieved as she began thinking for herself for the first time.*

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. With honestly and humility, readers are brought into the both public and private life of the first African American woman to serve the role of a first lady. Warm, wise, and awe-inspiring, Becoming is the deeply personal reflection of depth and defying expectations. 

*Trigger warning for domestic abuse. 

Written by: McKenna Madis, Photography: Abbi Roane, Design: Josh Carley, Social Media: London Marchman