Recommended Books
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Third Wheel
Third Wheel is a coming-of-age psychological thriller about a misguided teen who struggles to fit in with a pack of older, cooler troublemakers in the suburbs of a desert boomtown.
As a fast-paced page-turner, it follows the transformation of Brady Wilks from a naive newcomer into a root-worthy underdog in a story that explores the complexities of belonging, betrayal, and self-discovery. Eager to strengthen his relationship with his older teenage neighbor, Mick, Brady panders to an ambitious street-level drug dealer who has taken hold of their group.
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Strawberry moon
The Patterson family embarks on a new chapter by leaving the U.K. for a fresh start in France. Their new home in St Severin, nestled in the Dordogne region, sets the stage for a series of life-altering challenges. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of Maisie, a seventeen-year-old who grapples with the complexities of coming of age amidst significant changes. She navigates the turbulent waters of loss, competing love interests, and the intricacies of family dynamics. Meanwhile, her older brother Dan rebels against the move, contemplating a return to England once his studies conclude. Dan’s involvement in an affair with a married French woman adds another layer of tension. However, the situation takes a drastic turn when Dan mysteriously disappears, sending shockwaves through the family and unraveling their newfound life in France. What initially seemed like an exciting adventure transforms into a series of challenges that test Maisie’s resilience as she strives to chart her path into adulthood amidst the chaos and uncertainty.
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No More Tears for Nonna
Al Esposito’s “No More Tears for Nonna” is a touching narrative that resonates across genres. Set in Commack, NY, during the late 1960s, this uplifting tale immerses readers in the vibrant recollections of young protagonist Freddy. Struggling to break free from his overbearing mother’s influence, Freddy yearns for a brighter future. Through his deep bond with his cherished grandmother, Nonna, Freddy discovers profound lessons about love, loss, and the resilience of family ties. With skillful storytelling, Esposito crafts a sweeping, multi-generational saga of love, sorrow, and optimism that will leave readers deeply touched and inspired. “No More Tears for Nonna” is a compelling read for anyone who appreciates the enduring impact of familial love and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.
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No Lifeguard on Duty: A Novel
In the summer of 1970, racial unrest in Asbury Park sends three teenage friends into turmoil.
It’s July of 1970. The decaying beach town of Asbury Park, New Jersey erupts with racial unrest that propels three unlikely teenage friends into turmoil. Adam, Mollie, and Howard struggle with family conflicts and their racial, cultural and class identities in the midst of the chaos. Town and teens will never be the same.
When the smoke clears, secrets that brought the trio to this fateful time and place are revealed and continue to intertwine their lives in the years to come. The boardwalk and beaches become the setting for personal revelations, encounters with the dark side of human nature, and brushes with the supernatural.
No Lifeguard on Duty will stir a range of emotions and its nuanced treatment of race and class is as relevant today as it was in 1970.
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Crimes and Impunity in New Orleans
Crimes and Impunity in New Orleans” is author Sherrie Miranda’s prequel to her page-turner, debut thriller, “Secrets and Lies in El Salvador”. Shelly Dalton Smith is a naïve, twenty-three-year-old from Upstate New York who moves to New Orleans to prepare for a photo project in war-torn El Salvador. Shelly arrives in New Orleans, broken and traumatized and therefore unable to trust her own instincts. New Orleans represents the fresh start Shelly needs, but she soon finds that almost everyone in New Orleans harbors a secret.
She’s unprepared for life in “The Big Easy,” and her world is turned upside down as she navigates “the city that care forgot.” With fast-paced chapters and beautifully detailed conversations and descriptions, we see New Orleans through Shelly’s innocent eyes as she realizes the sheltered life she had lived was a lie. She experiences sexism and witnesses racism, police brutality, FBI visits, death threats, and two people’s captivity by her former boss.
Through her misadventures and exciting plot twists, Shelly focuses on fighting injustice, ultimately finding her authentic voice as an empowered adult. When she finally leaves New Orleans, she is forever changed. The novel is a wild ride through the underbelly of 1980s New Orleans and is filled with quirky characters, sinister abusers, and thrilling secrets and revelations.