Ages 14+
Lucy Knisley tells the smart, funny story of her year-long engagement and wedding. She writes about how her fiance came back into her life, and all the fun (and stressful) things about being a bride.
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Delirium Stories by Lauren Oliver
Grades 9-12
This book is a collection of short stories. A handful of characters in the Delirium series got their own stories, and they come together in this one volume. Read the stories of Hana, Annabel and Raven in Delirium Stories.
Cat Diaries: Secret Writings of the MEOW Society by Betsy Byars and Betsy Duffey
Grades 2-3
In this children’s book, cats of all kinds are members of the MEOW Society. They come together to share stories about themselves and their ancestors. Those who love cats will eat this one up!
I Take You by Eliza Kennedy
Ages 18+
Lily Wilder is about to get married to Will, the love of her life. Or is she? Lily is a New Yorker and a lawyer, and Will is an archaeologist. Everything seems perfect, but Lily has one big flaw – she likes to party a little too hard, and this in turn makes her do many questionable things. She wonders if she really loves Will, and he wonders if he knows her at all.
Thanks to BloggingForBooks.com for a review copy of this book.
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Grades 4-6
It’s the 1970s and everything depends on Raymie Clarke and what she does about it. Her father has run away with the dental hygienist, and she decides that now is the time to enter the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. She thinks that if she wins, she will get her picture in the paper and her father will come home. Will her plan work?
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Grades 9-12
Scarlett’s family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in New York City. When she and her siblings each turn 15, they are expected to care for a suite. Mrs. Amberson is the permanent guest that Scarlett inherits along with her suite, the Empire Suite. On top of that, Scarlett meets a gorgeous actor who is new to the city whom she falls hard for. Will she be able to handle it all?
It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort
Ages 18+
Nora has lost her father, her husband, and had a miscarriage all in the span of a few weeks. Yet, she still finds something to laugh about in life. The book is a little bit sad, a little bit funny and has a lot of good(ish) advice about life in general. But, like the author says, you might just want to Google it instead.
Lost Without My Daughter by Sayed Mahmoody
Ages 18+
Following the publication of Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody, and the movie adaptation of the book, Sayed Mahmoody, also known as Moody, gives his side of the story.
Betty’s book told the horrific story of when she and their daughter Mahtob were forced by Moody against their will to stay in Iran, once they agreed to go there for a two-week vacation to see his family.
In Lost Without My Daughter, Moody counters that story by claiming that Betty lied and told tales about what really happened. He also claims that he loved his wife and daughter very much and would never hurt them.
I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alfirenka and Martin Ganda
Ages 12+
In 1997, when Caitlin Alfirenka, then Caitlin Stoicksitz, was in middle school, her class picked countries in which to have pen pals. She chose Zimbabwe, and thus met Martin Ganda, a boy her age. They began exchanging letters, and Caitlin quickly realized how different their lives were.
She began sending Martin money with the letters, which he then used to buy a chicken for his family’s dinner, and eventually to pay his way through school. In Zimbabwe, school is not required, and you can only go if you can afford it.
Then Caitlin’s parents got involved and were able to send Martin and his family more money after his father lost his job.
Caitlin and Martin grew close through their letters, and thought of each other like brother and sister. In the end, both the Stoicksitz and Ganda families’ lives were changed forever with that first letter.
Hope & Other Luxuries: A Mother’s Life With a Daughter’s Anorexia
Ages 14+
Clare’s daughter Valerie had just conquered depression, and she wondered how much more she could take when her daughter Elena gets diagnosed with anorexia. Following her the diagnosis and struggle with the disease, Clare Dunkle tells the heartbreaking story of how her daughter dealt with and got help for her anorexia.
Michelle’s Bookish Life 