Sponsored by Carina Adores and The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover.
High school wasn’t the right time or place for their relationship to grow, but now, fifteen years later, a chance encounter changes both of their lives forever. “A brilliantly written LGBTQ+ take on the classic small-town romance.” —Booklist on The Hideaway Inn. Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
It’s time for another Tuesday full of books! There are several amazing new books out today. At the top of my list of today’s titles that I want to read are Belladonna by Anbara Salam and You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat. And a reminder that this glorious Keanu Reeves coloring book is out today.
You can also hear about some of the amazing new books coming out that I did get to read on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Vanessa and I discussed The Vanishing Half, The Boyfriend Project, The Distant Dead, and more great books.
As always, I am wishing the best for all of you in whatever situation you find yourself in now. Please stay safe and wear a mask as we slowly transition out of quarantine. I care about you meeps!
And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite gameshow: AHHHHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants:
American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
Lekha is an Indian-American girl in a small town in Michigan. She has grown up experiencing casual racism and microaggressions from her classmates and townspeople her whole life. When another Indian-American girl, Avantika, moves to her school, she challenges every terrible comment that comes her way from her first day. Lekha is conflicted about bonding with the new girl who has many things in common with her and not rocking the boat. This is an extremely timely book that offers children an important look at racism on many levels.
Backlist bump: Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan
Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst
And how could I not read a book with people riding a giant cat on the cover??? (Come to think of it, her adult fantasy novel that came out last month had a giant racing lion on it. I am 100% behind this trend.) This one is about a young girl named Zoe who takes in a small kitten, who keeps growing…and growing…and growing. And then she starts talking. (Spoiler: House cats don’t usually speak in our language, sorry to disappoint you.) Zoe must not only figure out a way to keep Pipsqueak hidden, now that she’s big enough to ride, but figure out where she really came from.
Backlist bump: Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander (I have not actually read this since I was little, so it could be horrible. But talking cat, yay!)
Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams
And real talk: if you’re burned out on books about pandemics, this is not the book for you. But if not – *pats chair* – come sit next to me! Because this is an excellent YA survival story about a teen girl named Agnes, who lives in Red Creek. Red Creek has strict laws and a leader, but Agnes is not truly aware of the fact that it’s a cult and the danger she and her siblings are in until she meets an outsider. Agnes decides to escape with her brother, but outside Red Creek isn’t much safer, as a mysterious viral pandemic spreads like wildfire. Can she save her family before the world ends?
Backlist bump: Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Thanks for subscribing! xx, Liberty