[Image description: Seven middle school girls, the Baby-Sitters Club, pose on or next to a bed.] Via Kyndra Sanchez Wiki
Did I expect to spend the weekend sobbing over a bunch of middle school characters as they explored everything from friendship to budding romance and even death? Maybe not, but since I’m the one who chose to binge the second season of The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix in one weekend, I really should have seen this coming.
I devoured season one of The Baby-Sitters Club last July. I had just moved to a new apartment in the middle of the first pandemic summer, and as much as I loved my new neighborhood and my morning exploratory walks, I missed, well, life. I thought the first season of the series, which adapts Ann M. Martin’s sprawling empire of novels, was perfect in almost every way: a sweet, uplifting show that nevertheless tackled big conversations in the world today. And importantly, it was one that allowed me to forget the pandemic.
TheBaby-Sitters Club season two hit Netflix on Oct. 11, 2021, and built upon the solid foundation of its first season. It offers a lot of the same things the first season does, while deepening storylines, character lives, and conversations. In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, it stars a group of middle school girls, led by the entrepreneurial spirit of Kristy Thomas, who start a club/business: in exchange for money, they will babysit neighborhood kids. Along the way, they learn important lessons about family, standing up for yourself, pursuing your dreams, and so so much more.
I spoke with Jen Petro-Roy, who is a former teen librarian and also the author of a few middle-grade novels, including P.S. I Miss You. She pointed out something I loved about the show myself: how modern it is. It’s set in a pandemic-free alternate universe version of contemporary times, and the showrunners did an excellent job modernizing the cast, the storylines, even the props.
“All of these updates seem so natural, too,” Petro-Roy said. “Of course it makes sense for MaryAnne to find her strength standing up for a trans girl she’s babysitting. Of course, the cast is more diverse. It makes sense, and that’s all because of how accepting, loving, and inclusive the world of Stoneybrook and the Baby-Sitters Club are.”
The beauty of the show, of course, is that it deals with such real-world topics through the framework of a middle-grade media property, and every episode ends on an uplifting note. The characters may go through hell over the course of the episode, but they’re going to end up stronger, happier, and better off than they started.
As a kidlit writer myself, one of the things I try to remember in penning my young adult novels is that they need hope. That’s not to say that everything needs to be hunky-dory throughout the story, or even that everything wraps up in a bow neatly for the characters. The Hunger Games is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Those characters go Through It over the course of the trilogy, but the ending is meant to show up that there is hope despite this. Katniss makes some choices at the end of Mockingjay that I hate, but they are accurate reflections of her trauma, and the ending is ultimately hopeful for a better day.
The Baby-Sitters Club is a shining example of middle-grade media because it’s enjoyable to people of all ages (I’m 28 and obsessed with it, but the focus is squarely on the middle school-aged characters — and their real-world counterparts, the viewers. The struggles the girls face are relevant to their age. This season, MaryAnne had her first boyfriend, and an episode’s plotline was about her trying to figure out what that meant for her. Whereas maybe a young adult audience would have wanted to see the story revolve around a first kiss or even first time having sex, for middle-graders it’s perfect that it just revolves around taking the relationship from “friends” to “more than friend.”
Petro-Roy thinks the show is a “perfect example” of media for middle grade.
“The main cast are actually real kids and the BSC themselves are dealing with classic issues of growing up (making new friends, first boyfriends, a loss in the family),” she said. “Middle grade is that strange time when kids are starting to solidify who they are in the world and wanting to have adventures on their own while still being called back into the fold of their family pretty strongly. This show exemplifies that so perfectly in its storyline and its talented child and adult cast.”
There is so much, so very very much, to love about The Baby-Sitters Club. It hooks in adults, teens, and tweens alike, telling the stories that we can all relate to: middle school drama and trauma. Both seasons are available now on Netflix, and I highly recommend the show.
Photo courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA. London Shah's author photo.
London Shah has been dreaming about a submerged world for years.
The British Muslim author, who is of Pashtun ethnicity, said in an email interview that she specifically dreamed of a submerged Britain. Not that she wants the current world to be flooded; just that it’s an image that has hovered near her for much of her life.
And now London’s sophomore novel, Journey to the Heart of the Abyss, the second in a duology about a 16-year-old submersible racer named Leyla who goes on an epic adventure to save her father and discover the secrets the government is hiding, is about to release. It’s set, fittingly, in an underwater version of Great Britain.
“The setting came first, long before any characters,” Shah said. “I cannot recall a time when I did not fantasize about our world carrying on beneath the surface of the seas. I imagined a submerged world as aesthetically close to our current one as possible, and nothing too hard sci-fi.”
Shah was mesmerized by the idea of a realistic underwater world, not one populated by mermaids but one where humans could watch present-day sea creatures — a huge whale, maybe an octopus — living their lives right outside our spheres of existence.
The first book in the duology, The Light at the Bottom of the World, was published in 2019 and the closing book publishes on Nov. 16, 2021.
“Every feeling and thought I had ever held about what life might be like living deep underwater, I have explored in these books,” Shah said. “All the wonder and magic, all the constant, suffocating perils, and of course all the endless possibilities! I explore them all. I have lived with this fantasy forever, and I am excited beyond words to finally share it with everyone.”
Shah said that growing up she loved studying English, writing fiction for assignments and telling stories, but that she never considered that “author” could be a viable career option.
“As a South Asian Muslim, back then I never believed writing was even an option for people like me,” Shah explained. “I have always loved creating with words but was never exposed to the idea of doing anything with that passion. Nobody I knew was a writer, and I knew exactly nothing about the publishing industry.”
Despite this, Shah said she is filled with ideas, which compel her to write. She has a vivid imagination and has been envisioning different worlds and stories since at least kindergarten. As much as creating new worlds to play in can be difficult, Shah said she loves doing it.
“Worldbuilding is intoxicating,” she said. “It is a lot of hard work, but watching your very own creation come to life—this whole other reality!—makes all the challenges worthwhile. It is exhilarating.”
She is motivated to write as well to tell the stories of characters of color. As a woman of color herself, Shah said she loves to fill her stories with main characters whose backgrounds and ethnicities reflect real-world people who do not often get to see themselves in the pages of their favorite books.
“To provide representation for those who have rarely seen themselves in the pages of a book, rarely experienced those like themselves going off on epic adventures and leading amazing quests, is the best motivator,” Shah said.
And in fact, because she writes for teens, Shah indicated that their reactions also propel her forward and motivate her. Her first book was a Battle of the Books selection and she’s been blown away by the reception among teens and students.
Another demographic who’ve embraced her book? German readers.
The book has been translated to German and published by Loewe Verlag, and Shah said she has loved seeing the book’s reception in that country.
“Its reception has been heartening and affirmative, and readers in Germany have been so enthusiastic and positive and lovely,” she said.
In order to write Journey to the Heart of the Abyss, Shah said she planned the book out scene-by-scene. Famously among writers, the second book in anyone’s career is notorious for how difficult it can be to write. Shah said she worked to overcome this slump by planning the whole book and by focusing on her craft, including by reading.
In fact, Shah believes so much in the power of reading to a writer’s craft that it’s what she recommends to aspiring writers.
“Expose yourselves to the art of storytelling whenever and however you can,” she said. “Recognize the things you feel most passionate about and that way if you are ever stuck for ideas, you will already have a rich source of details to pick from. Using and exploring what we feel an intense connection with ensures the story remains exciting to us, and has plenty of heart.”
In addition to Journey to the Heart of the Abyss, which is an anticipated conclusion to a fantastical debut, Shah recommended several other books she’s loved.
Currently, Shah is reading The Silver Tracks, which is book four in the Mirrorworld series by Cornelia Funke. She described it as, “remarkable.” In addition, she recommended Ciannon Smart’s summer debut Witches Steeped in Gold, saying, “It is different and fierce, and I loved it. Smart’s worldbuilding is to die for; it is rich and original, and you completely lose yourself in its ferocious heart,” and adding that book is a “thrilling, unpredictable read.”
Finally, Shah recommended the entire Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon. “Despite the heavy themes throughout, there is a tenderness to the narrative I have rarely encountered elsewhere in fiction,” Shah said. “The result is an enthralling experience. I barely took any breaks between the books, hardly breathed for fear of being rudely dragged out of that mesmerizing world. The next instalment in the series is my most anticipated book.”
[Image description: Cover of Tidesong by Wendy Xu.] Via Goodreads
Let me start by saying that Tidesong is absolutely delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and was sad when it got over. As the blurb says, this book is perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli. Being one myself, I could not wait to read it. Having said that, this book really works for anyone who has a love for whimsical and feel-good stories.
Tidesong is a graphic novel by Wendy Xu. The story revolves around Sophie, a young witch who comes from a family of magical beings. They are historically bound by magic to powerful water dragons. At the beginning of the book, Sophie is sent to live with her Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan to prepare for an audition to the Royal Magic Academy. Sophie is eager and ambitious, impatient to get started with practical magic and perform spells like her cousin and great-aunt.
In her impatience, she accidentally gets bonded to a young water dragon named Lir. Now Lir is stuck on land in his human form and without his memories. Sophie must work with him in order to bring his memories back and allow him to transform again. She is faced with a decision to make as helping him means that she must compromise on her studies for the Academy.
Tidesong is a beautiful story about friendships and finding where you belong. Sophie is utterly charming. She is smart, sensitive, and determined to prove herself. Her desire to understand her magical self and to find her place in this new world is relatable, in a sense. I certainly related to her frustration about her own inexperience and her need to make her family proud.
For a pretty short book, all the characters are beautifully fleshed out. You understand Sophie’s motivations immediately with just one or two thought bubbles. The other characters are very well-written too. Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan have very different approaches to Sophie’s magical education. Great-Aunt Lan is intimidating and insists that she do chores around the house to learn discipline, while Cousin Sage gives in to Sophie’s wishes once in a while and shows her how to do practical magic.
The art of the book is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. The lines and colors are simple but beautiful. From the farm on which Great-Aunt Lan and Cousin Sage live to the majestic underwater spaces of the water-dragons, every setting manages to reel you in and feel like you are immersed in the world of the book. The magic spells performed are illustrated in a way that you could almost imagine them being part of the world around you. At the end of the book, there is an Author’s Note where Wendy Xu talks about drawing the various small creatures and plants you see in the book and her inspiration from New England’s incredible biodiversity. These illustrations definitely make the book what it is.
The story of Tidesong is powerful in its simplicity. In a short space, the author both builds a whole magical world to lose yourself in and outlines the beauty of friendships and family in an entirely charming way. (Yes the word charming has appeared twice in this review, please make of that what you will!)
I definitely recommend this book if you would like a foray into a magical world – one that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
Support local bookstores and get your copy of Tidesong on Bookshop or Indiebound.
Want more book content? Follow ourBookstagram for international giveaways, exclusive excerpts, and author interviews!
[Image description: a black and white picture of Jnanadanandini Devi] via Wikipedia
Whenever we hear the surname Tagore, our minds drift to the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. Truth be told, the entire Tagore family, or what we Bengalis call Thakur poribaar were stalwarts of their time, and each contributed to society in one way or another. During British rule, they were one of the most influential families and played a key role in the Bengali renaissance.
When I first came across the Thakur poribaar, I was five. For most, it began with listening to a Rabindrasangeet (Tagore’s poems-turned-songs). However, I was introduced to the family with a quite different person: Jnanadanandini Devi, the wife of Satyendranath Tagore, Rabindranath’s elder brother. Flipping through the dusty pages of my ma’s old books, she introduced me to Devi for the first time.
“She was so strong,” ma always said. Jnanada, as Bengalis often call her, was my original feminist icon, and to say she was strong is putting it mildly. As ma would read to me what Jnanada had done during her life, a feeling of power would flood through me. It was foreign, yet familiar.
During the 19th century, the attitude of Bengal towards its women was misogynistic, restrictive, and immensely sexist, even for the 1800s. People were extremely conservative, and women were forced to obey their husbands and never express their own ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Throughout their lives (from their marriage which happened even before the age of ten) until their death, they were forced to live entrapped within the four walls of their quarters, unable to even go out for a walk.
Such was the condition of Bengal women, and Devi took it upon herself to trailblaze change.
As ma would read to me what Jnanada had achieved during her life, a feeling of power would flood through me. It was foreign, yet familiar.
At the mere age of seven, thanks to child marriage, Jnanadanandini Devi married Satyendranath Tagore. Although education was not commonplace for women during the 19th century, Devi’s family exposed her to education and learned to explore the world beyond what she already knew. However, said exploration was confined to books because of the purdah system.
But this setback didn’t stop Devi from breaking free of society’s confinements.
To receive probationary training for his Indian Civil Service, Tagore set out to England while Devi stayed home. When he returned, the couple moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) where Devi plunged into educating herself. She even took a solo trip to England, at a time when a woman walking out of the house was unheard of.She transferred this change of environment to Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), which shifted the condition of the women.
Devi was the first woman from Bengal who crossed the Abarodh, or the purdah system. She started on the first thing that identified women as second-class citizens: how they dressed. During the 19th century, it was tradition to wear the sari differently, in an uncomfortable way that restricted movement. Women always had to wrap themselves up (quite literally) and drape a ghomta over their faces so that they weren’t visible to others (think wings for Handmaids in Gilead, but longer).
Inspired by Parsi style, Jnanada created a new technique for draping the sari with pleats over the left shoulder and tucked in the waist. With this more comfortable style, women could finally move freely. She added a blouse and petticoat to offer an elegant look. Advertising this in Bamabodhini Patrika, she inspired and taught other women to wear the sari the Brahmika way.
Indian Fashion stamp series continues with 12 Jun release in Wuhan. Stamps based on Sari in Myriad forms include Brahmika saris, Pathare Prabhu, Parsi attire and saris on Silver Screen. Unique mix and artwork by Suresh Kumar #BetterPhila#Stamps19#StampsTeach#StampCollectingpic.twitter.com/oHSgLBQiyp
Devi was also a pioneer of literature and the arts. She wrote multiple articles for Bharati, and wrote about the patriotism and freedom that every Indian deserved. She wrote, “every benefit that the British have bestowed upon us is a blow to our mission of national liberation” in her article Ingrajninda O Deshanurag (Criticism of the British and Patriotism).
In 1885, she published a children’s magazine called Balak.She wrote two plays, Takdumadum and Saat Bhai Champa, both of which are considered irreplaceable in today’s Bengali literature. If these accomplishments were not rebellious enough, she also took part in multiple plays like Raja O Rani, written by Rabindranath. She also urged the women of the Tagore family to partake in these plays.Not surprisingly, she received waves of criticism from journals and society, but that never broke her independent spirit. Before her death in 1941, she even wrote a few memoirs that were published as Smritikatha O Puratani, carving an ultimate mark in the women’s literature spectrum.
By this point in her life, she’d made a name for herself, but it still wasn’t enough for members of her family to give her the respect she deserved. Debendranath Tagore, Devi’s father-in-law, didn’t approve of her independent spirit, which caused disruptions in the family. So in 1868, she left the Jorashanko house to live in a mansion by herself. Even though Devi and her father-in-law lived close by, they never interacted, which was unimaginable in those days. Living against tradition, she moved out with her husband and children and set an example to the rest of Bengal (take that, Debendranath).
Even though she came from a very privileged and influential background, Jnanadanandini Devi went above and beyond to spark change. For a woman in Bengali society, existence was like a prison, and Devi confronted that head-on. Today in most countries, the female experience has come a long way since Devi’s time, but there are still issues that must be addressed. The word “no” never thwarted her, and Devi’s story reminds us that when it comes to defending what’s right, nothing can make us give up.
I’m a sucker for book clubs. I’ve always loved to discuss books and literature with fellow readers. But having graduated college, I no longer have classmates who are obligated to talk and participate in classroom discussions, and most of my reading friends have scattered across the country. So, of course, it is a priority for me as I’m preparing to move to New York this year. Yes, that’s right. Your girl found herself a book club before she found herself an apartment.
In fairness, this book club is made of girls who are all moving to New York, so you know we have great literary taste, and we come bearing so many book recommendations. So here are some you might consider adding to your own book club:
[Image description: Cover of “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry]
The first time I saw this book, I picked it up, read the back cover, and put it back down. It was intriguing, but I wasn’t sure yet. It wasn’t until later that week, when the rest of my book club was raving over it, that I realized I made a mistake. Back to the bookstore, I went.
Emily Henry, the author of Beach Read, brings back funny and witty banter in People We Meet on Vacation. Two former friends, Poppy and Alex, reunite in Palm Springs for a trip that pushes them to re-examine their friendship. Yes, there are tropes galore: “opposites attract,” “best friends to lovers,” “there is only one bed,” and “slow burn” romance. But a trope done well? *chef’s kiss* So if you’re a fan of Love, Rosie (because who doesn’t love Sam Claflin in the movie? And what is it with characters named Alex in romance books?) then you’ll probably enjoy People We Meet on Vacation. It’s a breath of relaxation and one of the easiest, fastest reads I’ve had this year.
[Image description: Cover of “The Anthropocene Reviewed” by John Green]
If you remember John Green for The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and Turtles All The Way Down, you might also think of his work as 2010 Tumblr-core. His work is not entirely without its faults, but the backlash around his books is due to some misinterpretation and a lot of over-romanticization in film and TV adaptations. But I’ve always enjoyed his and Hank Green’s YouTube channel and books because they never talked down to their young audiences.
So I was very excited to pick up The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on A Human Centered Planet, John Green’s first nonfiction book. I’ve not yet finished it but so far, it’s exactly what I’ve hoped for: essays of thoughtfulness, exploration, and introspection. If we trust in the idea that Lady Bird suggests, that attention is a type of love, then The Anthropocene Reviewed is a love story through and through.
[Image description: Cover of “Dune” by Frank Herbert.]
You know that I love Dune. In fact, I’ve written about Dune and I’ll probably find a reason to write about it some more. But it’s been easier to convince my book club to pick up this sci-fi classic with the upcoming film adaptation in October. It also helps that Timothee Chalamet is playing the main character of Paul Atreides, so we’re all going to watch it, obviously. But we also know the dangerous truth of adaptations: The book is more often better than the movie.
What J.R.R. Tolkien’s TheLord of the Rings is for fantasy, Frank Herbert’s Dune is for science fiction. Paul Atreides’ family is betrayed after moving to a dangerous desert planet, and he undergoes the burden of being the imperfect “Kwisatz Haderach,” a messianic chosen one – albeit one with ambiguous morals and seriously questionable decisions. The worldbuilding of Dune is fascinating and cinematic, with deeply resonant themes of environmentalism, politics, and humanity.
[Image description: Cover of “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens.]
I’ll admit it, book clubs are partly an excuse for me to keep buying more books and catching up with all the ones I had to put down and say “I already have books at home.” While Delia Owens’ novel came out in 2018, I’ve only recently been able to catch up with this courtroom mystery book and, in the past year of social distancing and loneliness, Where the Crawdads Sing is surprisingly appropriate.
I’ve heard a few different thoughts on this book, so I was interested to get into it. Kya, a recluse in the wilderness who survives in the face of abandonment, is accused of murder when the popular boy, Chase Andrews, is found murdered. Where the Crawdads Singdelves into relationships and connections, including their absence or destructive nature. Although I sometimes struggled to enjoy the characters, I will always appreciate a good nature writer and Delia Owens is exactly that, through and through, with vibrant and stunning scenes of the North Carolina marches. The courtroom scenes are also well written, but the twist ending also came as a surprise, one that split opinions and led to good conversation – and isn’t that every book club’s favorite thing?
Lori Gottlieb, a therapist herself, writes this nonfiction novel examining her own mental health and interweaving the stories of her clients. She undergoes a devastating relationship breakup and begins seeing a therapist herself as she reflects on her life and grief. She connects the process of storytelling with therapy and medical care, and it’s a fascinating look into the healthcare process.
[Image description: Cover of “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett]
I am not joking when I say that I have seen this book in the window of every bookstore display this past year. I’ve always been cautious about bookstore displays. I imagine that most books are put on the main displays for their covers rather than their content. But it turns out The Vanishing Halfdoesn’t just have a beautiful book cover and it has earned its spot in bookstore windows for good reason.
The Vanishing Half (we reviewed it here) is the story of two Black sisters, Desiree and Stella, who are “white-passing” and eventually leave their hometown. As a historical fiction piece, it explores complex familial ties between romantic relationships, cousins, sisters, and descendants. It covers race, LGBTQIA+ issues, class, motherhood, and identity. Brit Bennett tackles so many topics in a single book, that it can feel overwhelming – but in a way that feels intentional and well crafted.
[Image description: Cover of “The Second Season” by Emily Adrian.]
Wow, Emily-s are getting a lot of attention on this booklist, aren’t they? But it’s worth it. The Second Season is about Ruth Devon, a sports broadcaster balancing motherhood and a career. It grapples with relationships, family, and personal ambition, giving an honest look at the challenge women at the top of their game face. In fact, you don’t even have to believe me. You can find out from my fellow Tempest editor Natalia who wrote a review on The Second Season.
I could talk forever about how much I love books and how wonderful it is to have people to talk about these books with. So if you’re also interested in finding yourself a book club, The Second Season happens to be the August book of the month for The Tempest’s own book club!
You can read the first chapter of The Second Season here, courtesy of The Tempest. Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Want more book content? Follow ourBookstagram for international giveaways, exclusive excerpts, and author interviews!
[Image Description: Collage of popular social justice books for budding activists]
Social justice activism and aiming to bring about change doesn’t happen overnight. However, one misconception that many people have about social activism is that they always view it in a political light. That is not always the case.
Reading a book to me is like discovering a new purpose, finding something to ponder upon and just being able to reflect on someone else’s viewpoint and reflect. I recently read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, a book on social justice activism that revolves around a 16-year-old, trying to make terms with her high-class school while dealing with the reality that brings her back to the narrow streets of her neighborhood.
I was intrigued to read this fictional account of Starr Carter who had to suffer from the trauma of watching a close friend getting shot before her eyes. Thomas beautifully deals with the complexity of standing up for your values from a young age.
In search of more such social justice activism books, I have listed down 13 books that will easily become any social justice activist’s absolute favorite in no time:
[Image Description: Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams] via Amazon.comLeadership is hard but convincing others about what you believe in is harder. This is a handbook for everyone looking to work towards combatting the challenges that hinder women, people of color, the working class, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and millennials, who are ready to make a change. With the help of her insights, Stacey manages to break down how ambition, fear, money and failure function in leadership, going hand-in-hand.
Get it for $15.64on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Internment by Samira Ahmed] via Amazon.comWritten by the bestselling author of Love, Hate, & Other Filters, the book follows Layla Amin, a Muslim-American who leads a revolution when she and her family are forced into an internment camp in the United States. Internment will inspire you to reflect upon Islamophobic rhetoric and politics, ensuring this scenario remains a work of fiction.
Get it for $10.11on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Front Desk by Kelly Yang] via Amazon.comMia Tang, the main character of the books has a lot of secrets. Front Desk is all about Tang’s courage, kindness and the hard work she shows to get through whatever comes her way. How she can hold on to her job while chasing her dreams, is for you to read and find out for yourself.
Get it for $7.35 on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis] via Amazon.comThis handbook is more of a collection of essays, interviews and speeches. Davis brings her perspective of working for civil rights advocacy to present-day movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and prison reforms to the forefront through this compilation.
Get it for $14.67on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin] via Amazon.comThe author turned photographer Kuklin interviewed six transgender to represent them thoughtfully for this book. The book is full of portraits, family photographs and candid images that augment the emotional journey of each one of them. Each discussion, whether joyful or heartbreaking, is completely different from the other.
Get it for $11.95on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo] via Amazon.comWhite Fragility is a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable and triggering. These triggers may include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear and guilt. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium which this book depicts perfectly.
Get it for $14.72on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: A Is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara] via Amazon.comTargeted for children, this illustrated book can come in handy for everyone, considering how ill-informed some people are despite easy access to information. Every letter is the definition of a different social movement. For F — you learn about Feminism, when we get to G – you can learn about the meaning of grassroots organizing and why it is important. Learn ABC, the social justice activist way!
Get it for $10.99on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker] via Amazon.comThis historical take on how the indigenous people have fought for environmental justice will bring back the social activist inside you to life. Journalist turned scholar Whitaker puts into perspective everything. From treaty violations to the efforts to protect sacred sites, you won’t want to stop reading.
Get it for $14.72on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Social Justice Activist by Ellen Rodger] via Amazon.comSocial Justice goes beyond individual human rights. Young budding social justice activists will get a sense of how the words and contributions of activists like Nelson Mandela and Marian Wright Edelman inspired others to choose the path of what is right.
Get it for $8.95on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel] via Amazon.comHand up is a story of a black girl who has a habit of raising her hands regularly, be it for playing peek-a-boo or getting dressed. As she grows older, the girl uses the action of raising her hands for a more powerful cause. Read this book out to children to help them understand the meaning of empowerment.
Get it for $16.55on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Friendship as Social Justice Activism by Niharika Banerjea, Debanuj Dasgupta, Rohit K. Dasgupta and Jaime M. Grant] via Amazon.comThis compilation of essays brings essential conversations around love and friendship together, from a variety of contributors from across the globe. Each essay narrates how living and organizing within friendship circles and kindness offer new ways of struggling for social justice.
Get it for $42.00on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Technology, Activism, and Social Justice in a Digital Age by John G. McNutt] via Amazon.comThis book offers a close look at both the present and prospects of social change. McNutt delves into the cutting edge of the latest technology while discussing developments in social media, civic technology and leaderless organizations, not leaving behind the traditional approach to technology.
Get it for $36.95on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image Description: Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America by Noah Rothman] via Amazon.comThis book is all about the two problems with social justice, one that it is not social and the other that it is not just. Rothman uncovers the real motives behind the social justice movement and explains why, despite its occasionally ludicrous public face, it is a threat to be taken seriously.
Get it for $28.99on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[adsanity id=”170648″ align=”alignnone”/]
All of these books are close to my heart as at some point or the other, they have shaped the person I am today and have enabled me to first think and then act.
The Tempest special offer: get 2 audiobooks for the price of one ($14.99) with your first month of membership with code TheTempest. Offer only valid for new members in Canada and the U.S.
Want more book content? Follow ourBookstagram for international giveaways, exclusive excerpts, and author interviews!
Feature Image of 23 LGBTQ+ books releasing this Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated every year in June to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. During this month, a lot of attention is given to LGBTQIA+ culture and it serves as a much-needed reminder that even though representation has come a long way in recent years, it requires a commitment to pursuing and uplifting queer voices. We think this is a great opportunity to put a spotlight on creators, authors, and stories that reflect the diverse range of experiences in the queer community.
In honor of Pride, here are 23 books releasing this month that you should add to your reading lists! The books on this list portray LGBTQIA+ characters from a variety of experiences and across a variety of genres, so you are sure to find something exciting to read this month!
The cover of Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídê
In an ultimate combination of Get Out meets Gossip Girl, Ace of Spades is the perfect queer book you have to read this summer.
Devon and Chiamaka are the senior class prefects in the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. They are smart, focused, and all set to enter the Ivys with their perfect academic and extra-curricular records. But everything changes, when an anonymous entity called the Aces starts revealing all of their secrets.
Will the Aces sabotage the girls’ future, or will the girls ruin the Aces’ plans? Read this thrilling suspense to find out. Xoxo.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Two estranged sisters, Jamie and Siri get together to fix their broken family life. Despite having polar opposite personalities, they decide to switch places and confront their parents for separating them.
While navigating each other’s contrasting lifestyles was already complex, life gets more complicated when love gets into the picture. Siri develops a crush on Jamie’s best friend Dawn while Jamie ends up falling in love with a random stranger in New York.
In their quest of uniting their broken family, will the sisters be able to reignite love between their parents or will their personal lives get in between?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The Cover of The Darkness Outside by Eliot Schrefer
What happens when two sworn enemies are put together in the same spaceship?
This isn’t your typical YA haters turned lover’s story. Ambrose wakes up in the spaceship with absolutely no memory at all. All he knows is that the voice on board belongs to his mother and there is a brooding guy that won’t talk to him.
With their survival at stake, Ambrose and Kodiak need to find a way to reconcile and work together against an unknown force in space.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
While we have plenty of stories describing the pain of losing a loved one, not many talk about the unilinear path of recovery that follows.
After losing his brother in a hit-and-run case, Liam is forced to deal with life alone. His life completely falls apart as he struggles to find the will to go on with life. People tell him that life goes on and he needs to cope with the grief. However, he does not know how to do it. He does not know if he can.
From survivor’s guilt to finding the reason to move on, in an honest and transparent way, this book recounts the struggle we face after losing someone we love.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The Cover of The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag
After the success of The Witch Boy Trilogy, Molly Ostertag is back with a story of Morgan.
Morgan is your typical 15-year-old. She lives with her mom and brother in a tight-knit community where everyone is basically your extended family. But you know the thing with families, they have secrets. And Morgan’s biggest secret was wanting to leave this perfect island because they wouldn’t accept who she really was.
All she knew was that once she left the island, she’d be done be secrets. But what happens when she falls in love with someone that has the craziest secret amongst them all?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Revisit your teenage days with Jay’s Gay Agenda. All the way from wish lists and first date butterflies to complexities of first love and heartbreak, read this incredible LGTBQIA+ edition of finding love while balancing life.
By the way, we’re interviewing author Jason June on Instagram live, stay tuned for the announcement on our Bookstagram!
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The Love Songof Ivy K. Harlowe follows the life of a high school graduate named Andie who is madly in love with her best friend Ivy.
Ivy, who is unabashedly sexual and sleeps with someone new every night and when she’s on the dance floor, she’s the one no one can tear their eyes from. To Andie, everyone loves Ivy but nobody can form a deep connection with her like Andie. That is until Dot comes along and Ivy finds herself looking for a relationship.
This book grapples with Queer romance, blurred lines between friendship and love and the complexities of female friendships. It also portrays chronic illness and disability representation in an authentic and earnest light.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The cover of Never Kiss Your Roommate by Philline Harms
Never Kiss Your Roommate is a dual-point-of-view novel set in an English boarding school. The book follows Evelyn and Seth as they join a new private institution (Seven Hills) in England after experiencing tough times in their personal lives. Together, they struggle to fit in at their new school.
Evelyn’s roommate Noelle is unfriendly and bitter, who managed to send away her last roommate in tears. However, Evelyn instead of being intimidated by this mysterious roommate, is attracted to her. Never Kiss Your Roommate is a story full of queer friendship and queer romance. If you are a fan of enemies to lovers trope, this one should be on your must-reads!
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The cover of The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
Another high school read, The Passing Playbook follows a 15-year-old Spencer Harris, a black trans teen. After experiencing bullying at his old school, he is ready to start afresh at the most liberal school in Ohio (Oakley).
Everything seems to be going well for Spencer at the new school. New friends who are very accepting, a decent shot at a starting position on the boy’s soccer team and even becoming a little something more than friends with one of his teammates. The only problem? No one at Oakley knows that he is trans. At Least not until his coach discovers the ‘F’ on Spencer’s birth certificate. Things go awry when Spencer is benched due to a discriminatory law.
The Passing Playbook is a story about friendship, soccer, finding and standing up for one’s true self.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
This story takes the reader on a thrill ride with Riverdale-like aesthetics. Trixie lives a troubled life at home and she can’t wait to escape for a weekend getaway with her best friend Lux. On their dream trip, they stop by at a college bar where their fun time quickly turns violent. The event turns them from normal high school girls into wanted fugitives.
They soon realize that they can only rely on each other, and the love that they find for each other is the only thing that will make them stronger in the face of adversity.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The cover of The Un Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez
The Un Popular Vote tells the tale of a transgender teen (Mark) who has to be stealthy because his dad is a congressman who wants to keep his son’s transition a secret. However, when Mark finds a manipulative candidate with a dangerous agenda running for the student body president, he decides to step out of the low profile that he had promised his father and insert himself as a political challenger.
Mark’s story arc is not about figuring himself out or dealing with internalized transphobia, it’s about keeping the promise of staying stealth to his Father.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The cover of All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
An easy-to-grasp fantasy novel that grapples with elements of tarot reading, witches, occult behavior and mysterious kidnapping. It follows Maeve, a high school student in Ireland who one day during detention discovers a pack of Tarot cards. What starts as a harmless bit of tarot reading ends up with a missing girl and sinister cult of radicals who take their political beliefs to a dark level.
The book speaks of sexuality and gender in an informative way without scolding or guilt-tripping the readers.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Fire With Fire is a fantasy novel about two sisters, Dani and Eden who are trained in dragon slaying. They are the complete opposites of each other. For Dani, dragon-slaying takes a back seat to normal school life, while Eden has worked her whole life to be recognized as a dragon slayer. Things take a turn when Dani befriends a dragon (Nox) and creates a magical bond.
With Dani being lost to the dragons, Eden reaches out to a set of mysterious sorcerers for help to save her sister. Now fighting against each other to save one another, they fail to see the bigger enemy lurking over their shoulders.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The Cover of Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson
Perfect for the fans of Rachel Hartmen and Rae Carson, Girls at the Edge of the World is an incredibly romantic fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic flood. While Natasha is hell-bent on ensuring that everyone gets a safe passage into the new world, Ella is simply driven by her thirst for revenge against the Kosyrovian Royal Court.
With a common goal, these girls team up to challenge the system. They’ve calculated every single variable to ensure this much-needed success. But when love sneaks up on them and gives them a new purpose in life, will they end up giving up on their initial agendas?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Six lucky teens are invited to spend an unforgettable weekend at the mansion of heiress and social media mogul Jewel Van Hanen. After vanishing for a year, Jewel announces she has chosen lucky users of her app “Golden Rule” access into her private life, and for a chance to win a life-changing cash prize. Only things don’t appear quite as they seem. The guests find themselves thrown into an elaborate estate-wide game, with every riddle and challenge tailored to each individual player’s strengths and weaknesses.
This exhilarating premise is like a social media-era version of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, and the novel also contains sapphic character and representation. It follows three players— Luna: Jewel’s biggest fan, Nicole: the darling of Golden Rule, and Stella: a brilliant outsider, as they navigate the insane puzzle set up by the reclusive heiress.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Dani’s best friend is Sarah, who happens to be a ghost who has been dead for 20 years. Living with an abusive father and not fitting in at school, Sarah is the one thing that gets Dani through it all — and he thinks that they might be even be more than friends. But there’s one thing Dani can’t tell her. He knows that Sarah hates men, having been murdered by one, so he Is afraid to tell her that he is trans.
One day, Sarah and Dani come across another ghost in the woods, suffering with the memory of her own brutal murder. The duo decide to help ghosts like this spirit find peace and give them a sanctuary to return to. But when an old friend reenters Dani’s life, and helps him find a sense of belonging, he begins to wonder if being a part of the living world means he needs to let go of his ghosts.
This novel deals with a lot of heavy themes, such as trauma, abuse and struggling with one’s gender identity.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Bi The Way is a thorough look into understanding and embracing your bisexuality. This essential guide contains accounts from bisexual advocates, practical guidance on topics such as dating, sex, coming out, biphobia, bi erasure, activism, and gender identity. The book is an honest and powerful manifesto that aims to shed light on a community that is often overlooked and has experienced a history of erasure.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
In Gearbreakers, we meet Eris and Sona, two girls on opposite sides of a terrible war in a cyberpunk world, who discover that they are fighting for a common purpose.
In the country of Godolia, a tyrannical power is spreading, aided by giant mechanized inventions called Windups. Eris is one of the rebels, a Gearbreaker who specializes in taking down these weapons of destruction. When a mission goes horribly wrong, she is thrown into a Godolia prison, where she meets Sona. Sona is a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot, and at first Eris thinks she is the enemy, until Sona reveals she is a secret double agent, infiltrating the program to destroy it from within. The girls team up, with the odds stacked against them as they plot to destroy the overloads’ reign for good, and find themselves inadvertently growing closer, as allies, and maybe even something more.
A book that is a sapphic sci-fi adventure and uses the enemies to lovers trope? It can’t get any better than that.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
From the author of Cinderella Is Dead comes a darkly evocative fairytale about Briseis, a girl who can grow plants with a single touch.
Bri has never known her biological family and has no idea where her gift comes from. When an aunt she’s never met dies and leaves her an old estate in rural New York, she and her adoptive parents leave their city life behind. Bri hopes that being surrounded by nature will help her gain control over her gifts, but the new home is eerier than she could have imagined. Her aunt has left her in charge of a secret apothecary and a garden filled with deadly botanicals that can only be entered by someone who shares Bri’s unique bloodline.
Then strangers begin to drop by unexpectedly, asking Bri for special elixirs, which she learns she has a talent for creating. She meets Marie, an unusual young woman she is inexplicably drawn to, but Bri begins to suspect there is something Marie is not telling her, about the dark secrets of her sudden inheritance. Before she can do anything, a nefarious group arrives and demands Bri make them a rare elixir, one that grants immortality. Facing a centuries-old curse and deadly poisonous plants, Bri must take control of her gift to protect herself and her loved ones.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
Lee has her life worked out. She loves her job as a sound tech at the local coffee shop, and she cohosts a popular podcast called ‘Artists in Love’ with her boyfriend.
Then her boyfriend breaks up with her on air right free graduation. To make matters worse, the timing of her parents split and losing her job coincides with the breakup, and Lee’s perfect life is thrown out the window. Trying to make ends meet, Lee decides to start a new podcast with her new friends Max and Risa, called “indestructible objects” where they pose the question of whether love truly exists at all. As she starts to explore the love stories in the city of Memphis, Lee begins to wonder if maybe love is more than what she expected.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
A queer coming-of-age story dealing with themes of grief, love, and coming out, and perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Emily had always considered herself lucky, that is, until she lost her mother to cancer three years ago. Now, about to go off to university, things are worse than ever as Emily packs away her mom’s things and her dad prepares to sell the house she grew up in. No one is talking to Emily due to an incident at school, except for one person: Blake.
Emily comes across a bucket list her mother had made in her senior year of high school, buried in the back of her closet. With the hope of fixing her life and feeling close to her mother, she decides to complete the bucket list with Blake’s help. Emily soon realizes there is another thing she has to check off for herself: accepting a secret part of herself she never got to share with the person who knew her the best.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
The cover of Love and Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura
Love and Other Natural Disasters is a rom-com set in San Francisco which tells the story of Nozomi, a queer Japanese-American teenager who struggles to recognize love outside of her picture-perfect ideals. On her first evening in San Francisco, she stumbles on the most gorgeous girl ever (Willow). Willow however, doesn’t seem all that interested in Nozomi.
To Nozomi’s surprise, she finds Willow working at the same place as hers. Willow and Nozomi start a fake relationship to make Willow’s ex-girlfriend (Arden) jealous. They get into the relationship with different motives but will they come out of it together? If you want to read more, we published a full-fledged review of the book!
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
A collection of prose and poetry compiled by Bruce Owens Grimm, Miguel M. Morales, and Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini explores the intersection of fat and queer identities, showcasing new, emerging and established queer and trans writers from around the world. This book challenges negative and damaging stereotypes of queer and fat bodies and gives the readers a way to reclaim their bodies and narrative while providing stories of support, inspiration and empowerment.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores.
We have no doubt you’ve found something on this list that you’re absolutely dying to read! Which ones are you going to get? Share your pictures with us and tag @thetempestbooks to be featured!
[Image description: Two women hug and smile on a beach.] Via Unsplash
Not to toot my own horn, but I think I give excellent dating advice. However, if you were to ask me for my dating credentials, I would hand you a blank piece of paper.
For some, being serially single is not a choice. But for me, it’s a lifestyle.
I have been single for all of my adult life, and I thoroughly enjoy the independence and solitude—which I know freaks people out. While some single people date, I do not.
So how does this make me—and other serially single people—expert at giving dating advice?
Let me let you in on a few secrets of the trade.
The first secret is not actually a secret but a well-known fact: Almost all forms of content are about love.
Even content that exists outside of traditional romance genres usually includes love and sex. For example, that action movie you just watched, was there a romantic arc in it?
Exactly.
Most movies, television shows, and books have provided blueprints for all kinds of relationships. A lot of these blueprints have helped me understand what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like.
I’ve also read more than a fair share of fanfiction. Honestly, when you asked for my dating credentials, I could have sent you the link to AO3 and, if you’ve ever read any fanfiction, you’d have immediately understood why this gives me so much credible dating insight.
Even being someone who grew up alongside the Internet has made many of us mini experts on random topics. Most of us didn’t necessarily seek this information out; it just appeared on our Tumblr, Twitter, or Instagram feeds.
Here’s the real secret: All relationships are the same.
Whether platonic or romantic, open or closed, monogamous or polyamorous, all relationships are made of the same ingredients. The dictionary definition of relationship describes the connection between people. And we all have experience with that. I may not date, but I do have lots of friends.
Some of my friendships have failed while others have thrived. This has helped me gain insight on communication, boundaries, and respect—insight that applies to both platonic and romantic relationships.
I’ve also watched most of my loved ones experience all kinds of different relationships. As you can imagine, being single gives those of us who are serially single plenty of free time to observe other people’s relationships—and, if you’re a Virgo like me, judge these relationships in order to perfect the advice we give to those who may (or may not) ask.
Just because your single friends haven’t dated anyone—casually, seriously, or at all—doesn’t mean we’re not familiar with the territory. All of our observations add to our dating advice credentials.
In fact, we’re kind of like therapists.
Because we’re removed from romantic situations, we have clarity uncolored by personal bias and experiences.
Most importantly, your serially single friends arguably have the most experience with prioritizing themselves and their needs. This makes us adept at keeping your best interests top of mind if you come to us for romantic advice.
We want you to be yourself and to love who you are. We will encourage you to take the time to learn more about your wants, needs, and goals before diving further into romance.
The best advice I can give as a serially single person is to try out being single. Being single has a lot of perks, the top of which is that it can give you the time, space, and energy to explore you who are.
I’m not saying everyone should be single. I’m just saying don’t knock it till you try it.
And, don’t worry. I promise I won’t say “I told you so” when you realize being single helped you become a better romantic partner.
Happy dating!
Looking for more like this? Find more on our Instagram!
A picture of the book 'Kisses & Croissants' by Anne-Sophie Jouheanneau and a black and white image of the author
Paris – the city, not the socialite – is kind of having a moment in pop culture, again. We’ve all been drooling over the gorgeous scenery porn that makesEmily in Paris watchable before adding more Pinterest pins to our travel vision board for 2022. Heck, some of us are even quietly streaming that okay-ish Chainsmokers song about Paris before skipping over to Christine and the Queens for a palate cleanser. I would also be remiss to not talk about the best things to come from the city in recent times, yes, I am talking about Céline Sciamma and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Which is why reading Kisses & Croissantsby French author Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau had us falling in love with a story that embodied the allure of the city itself.
The story reads like this: Mia Jenrow is a sixteen-year-old American ballerina who’s made it into an elite summer ballet program in Paris. With six weeks to prove herself and achieve her dreams: snagging an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. She’s all set to prove how much ballet means to her with her hard work and passion.
But there’s more to Paris than just ballet and all the delicious croissants that she can’t stop indulging in – especially when Mia encounters the easy-going but charming French boy Louis, who wants to be her tour guide and unravel parts of her along the way. Topped off with a family mystery that may prove that ballet is in her blood with an ancestress being one of the ballerinas in the famed Degas painting, Mia is all set for a summer like no other.
In an exclusive interview with The Tempest (which we’ll release in full soon, stay tuned!), Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau shares her thoughts on her English language debut novel finally being out into the world, whether she’s secretly following ballerinas (or an art enthusiast, given the novel’s Degas subplot) and what inspired her to reinvent the teen romance genre trope with her refreshing book.
“There are a few YA novels about study trips abroad to Europe, so I liked the idea of Mia having a different sense of purpose for going to Paris,” says Jouhanneau, “It’s important to me to portray young girls as being in charge of their own destiny. That’s true for every character, but it feels even more meaningful to write girls who are driven and not afraid to go after their dreams.” In fact, spirited heroine Mia spends a good chunk of the book honing her art and wondering whether she would be good enough for the program’s prickly perfectionist instructor who comes off as a male Miranda Priestly.
While the book serves as a love letter to Paris, with the city establishing itself as a vibrant main character, the author notes that it is only natural that any love story set in Paris, “should be a love story with the city, itself.”
The book also provided a lighter take on the ballet sub-genre due to Jouhanneau’s love for the performing arts and wanting to explore its beauty through a lighter perspective. Mia is a high-strung teenager, who spends the initial half of the work competing with a long-time ballet rival and foil, Audrey but she learns to develop a healthy relationship with her peers and her rival. “As I started researching this story, I noticed that several YA novels featuring ballet dancers have darker themes. I knew Kisses and Croissants would be romantic and upbeat, so it was an opportunity to explore the artistry and beauty of ballet through a lighter lens.” said Jouheanneau.
But as Mia grows, she learns to live life with a more seize-the-day approach, through Louis, her French love interest (“the dream French boyfriend”, according to the author). More importantly, the main character acts as a medium through which we are reminded to let life run its course even when things don’t quite go according to plan, given the trials and tribulations she goes to in her quest to get into her dream ballet school.
[The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse), 1873–1876, oil on canvas, by Edgar Degas (Wikimedia Commons)]There is also the absolutely interesting Degas subplot that had the inner art enthusiast in us jumping because we love a good mystery especially one that comes from family lore! How did the author get about plotting that nifty subplot which is much closer to real life than reel life, “I’m a big art enthusiast,” says Anne-Sophie Jouheanneau, “I spend a lot of time roaming museums and art exhibitions, both in New York [where I live] and when I travel. I really enjoyed researching Degas paintings and deciding which would be Mia’s favorite. It was also a fun way to take Mia and Louis on adventures throughout the city.”
Which brings us to the deliciously cute love interest of Mia who has us sighing over not bumping into cute French boys who drive Vespas. “I know it sounds corny but I love love. Relationships—romantic or not—are forever fascinating to me, so they play a big part in how I think about stories. Both as a reader and as a writer, I need some romance in my fiction, even if it’s not the main element. Writing a love story feels so natural to me.” says Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau.
So what is next for Jouhanneau, will we see a sequel for Kisses & Croissants or a book in the works? While Kisses & Croissants is a fully-realized story, the author is hard at work on an upcoming standalone YA romance, slated to be published in fall 2022. Till then, feed your appetite with this sweet offering.
The Tempest is also releasing the first chapter of Kisses and Croissants tomorrow + the full Q&A with Anne-Sophie! In that post, you’ll also have the chance to enter a giveaway for the book. Also don’t miss our live event with her on our Bookstagram on April 5, which you can rewatch in our IGTV section after.
[Image description: poster for our IG event Bookish Talk with Anne-Sophie] via The Tempest
Get the book on Amazon or on The Tempest’s Bookshop supporting local bookstores.
[Image description: person sitting at their computer surrounded by art supplies.] Via Pexels
My hesitance with being creative started with a set of simple words on my screen: “Nowis the perfect time to write your book!” I encountered variations of these words on Twitter, against the scenic backdrop of a forest in an inspiration post on Instagram. They seemed to follow me everywhere I clicked. These words became a trickling of an inner voice in my head that demanded one thing: write a book. Write the book.
At the time, we were all in our first few weeks of the world-wide lockdown. There was a wave of posts that encouraged people to look at the bright side of staying home. After all, we had the many privileges that came with being able to have our own spaces during this time. We didn’t have to share a common eating space with colleagues and we could work in our pajamas. It wasn’t all bad, right?
Not to mention, while we self-isolated and stayed inside, our schedules had significantly cleared up. These reminders and gentle pushes served as an incentive for us to sit down and do the things we said we’d do if we had more time. My current circumstance, if I would have let it, could have been inspirational. This was the time I had been waiting for, so why wasn’t I typing away?
I imagined myself as an artist who was finally in their own element with nothing but time and energy to create. Cocooned away in blankets, frantically typing away at her next screenplay, she uses the time she would have spent commuting to work to instead perfect her craft. Or perhaps I’d relate more to a woman whose hands dance in the warm light streaming through the window. There are paint streaks on her cheeks and the coffee in her mug has gone cold.
Then, there is also the image of a struggling artist who perseveres against all odds. Their hand is shaking, but resolute, as they photograph minute details of their surrounding, working with what they have. This artist scrapes the barrel for their inspiration, regardless of the clamor outside. Fair. But we need to remind ourselves these are heavily romanticized ways of approaching creativity.
Reading the pandemic was the perfect time to ‘write my book‘ made me feel discouraged. I felt bogged down. I was in mourning for the perfect end to my senior year that now would never be. Trapped in my room, I felt the need to escape. Writing allows me to delve deep into myself – something I could not have been bothered with before the pandemic hit. However, as any writer can tell you, it is an incredible feeling to share your work, but writing can be a terribly lonely and internal process.
I wasn’t partaking in much leisure creativity in those early days. Even writing my college senior project, a creative fictional piece, felt like a chore. All my energy went into listening to the voices that streamed out of my laptop during the last of my online courses.
All I wanted to do was scoop out my mind and leave it in a warm tub to rest. I watched movies, listened to music, and chatted with my roommates, using up the energy I had left on reserve. I didn’t feel inspired to produce some great masterpiece. But I had all the time in the world to do it. Since I wasn’t going anywhere, why wasn’t I writing my book?
Weren’t the arts meant to be those places where we could escape from capitalist expectations of labor and product?
Over time, I felt myself spiraling. I didn’t have an idea of what I would write. I just felt like I had to make something productive out of my time. I genuinely felt I was going to disappoint myself either way, whether I chose to pick up my pen or not.
This is all sounding gloomy, but actually, there were times when I wanted to be creative. When I felt that sudden urge to set off and start working on a new piece of writing or pick up painting as a hobby. I knew when I started working I would feel good about it, but the benchmark had been set so high that I felt discouraged.
When I was packing up to move back home, I stumbled upon a product of my literary past. I had written up a small outline of a short story sometime in January. Immediately, I wanted to drop everything, move aside the boxes from my desk, and bring the story to life.
I had an epiphany- this mindset of creating perfect art was (and is) toxic. Creativity doesn’t have to be productive. Weren’t the arts meant to be an escape from capitalist expectations of labor and product?
I am not wasting my time even if nothing comes of the writing– I am perfecting a craft.
Art didn’t need to be performative either. It didn’t have to wear the fancy label of a ‘novel’ or perform for an audience. I didn’t need to parade around and place a glossy cover over the pages. Instead, I needed to give myself permission to not even have to finish whatever project was in my drafts. Ultimately, I must accept no creative pursuit is ever wasted. I am not wasting my time if nothing comes of the writing. Rather, I am perfecting a craft. As for talent, there is no wasting that unless I don’t use it.
The sooner I realized I could follow my creative instincts without oppressive expectations, the sooner I felt creatively liberated. Whether it bethrough sporadically writing a scene of a story or picking up (and putting down) a paintbrush when I feel inclined, I shouldn’t have felt pressured to fully pursue my creative urges if I didn’t want to. I should be allowed to surrender to that flurry of excitement and passion to simply express myself. Then, when the passion was over, to let it go. Truly, I didn’t even have to show my creative work to anyone or look at it ever again.
I am teaching myself creativity isn’t meant to always be translated into something productive. The funny thing is I often did return to those pieces and paintings and continued to work on them. But that was only possible when I didn’t feel the heavy benchmark of producing a bestseller or a museum-worthy mural on my shoulders.
Goodbye 2020, hello 2021. This year is full of promise and new experiences. I’m not sure what you’ve added to your new year resolutions, but number one for me is read even more.
If you happen to like that idea, here’s a list of new books to jump on this month.
Actually, before we start… do you want to listen to these instead? Put your earphones on and let those mellifluous voices transport you to other worlds? Get 2 audiobooks for the price of one when you sign up for Libro.fm, the first audiobook service that supports local bookstores! I will tell you more about this offer at the bottom, enjoy the recommendations now!
1. Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler
Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler book cover Via GoodReads
When I’m in charge of these lists, I’m a little biased. I’m sorry but so far the Moose Springs Series only gets better with each book. Lana & Rick 4ever. So, of course, I’m eager for book three to be in my hands so I can read about River Lane and Easton Lockett. River is in town for a fresh start in her career by making a documentary about sweet ol’ Moose Springs. Cue Easton Lockett, the town’s gentle giant and mountain guide. He’s tasked with getting River and her crew up and down Mount Veil. Unfortunately, bad weather strikes and everyone’s at risk. Easton mostly at risk of falling deeply in love.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
2. Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder
Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder book cover via GoodReads
Do you want to go on an amazing magical adventure? This book is full of action: an heir must raise a powerful phantom while a High Savant (I don’t know what that is by I’m excited to find out), a race tries to steal children for the sea, and a swoon-worthy guide keeps many secrets. All the while Ash, a scribe, is tasked with observing and recording history in the making. I’m always on the hunt for a hypnotic young adult series so I’m eager to read this one.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
3. The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith
The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith book cover Via GoodReads
This book is the third of Smith’s Vine Witch Series. Though I’m not a huge fan of historical fantasy the first line of the book description has me very intrigued. It says, “Sidra didn’t murder her husband. Yet even a jinni can’t wish away a wrongful imprisonment.” So the novel follows Sidra as she tries to prove her innocence.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
4. Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift
Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift book cover via GoodReads
This young adult fantasy is the first of a duology about Adraa and Jatin. They are royal heir to their respective magical kingdoms and are arranged to be married. The animosity between them is unrelenting until the criminal world of Belwar has them using secret identities to find the real enemy. The pair must near to trust each other to find their answers but only time will tell if being together is what strengthens or weakens them.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
5. The A to Z of Mindfulness by Anna Barnes
The A to Z of Mindfulness by Anna Barnes book cover Via GoodReads
While 2020 is over, I’m still “hungover” from the pandemic and this book screams self-care. Anna Barnes writes about how to live life mindfully and to find new ways to stay connected to the world around us. There are infinite ways to kindle your sense of wonder in the everyday and Barnes uses the alphabet to cover her favorite.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
6. The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk book cover via GoodReads
Beatrice Clayborn just wants to practice magic like the men are allowed, but instead her family has put everything they have into making her a great prize for the Bargaining season where men and women of means negotiate the best marriages. Her family is buried in debt so only her marriage can save them if she finds a wealthy enough suitor. Of course, things never go as planned and a Magus takes a grimoire she’s eying and only gives it to her if she gives her her first kiss to her adversary’s brother, Lavan. The more she gets involved with Lavan’s family the more complicated her future becomes.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
7. Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann
Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann book cover via GoodReads
This contemporary romance is about Phoebe who thinks love is for, well, losers. That is until she meets Emma at a local thrift shop. I think that’s really all you need to know? It sure was enough for me to add it to my TBR.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
8. Written in Starlight by Isabel Ibañez
Written in Starlight by Isabel Ibañez book cover via GooReads
I have yet to read Woven in Moonlight, but at least when this is out I can binge both at once. In the second book we follow Catalina Quiroga, a Condesa without a country. She’s been banished to Yanu Jungle and though her chances of survival are slim, she knows she’s destined to rule. This young adult fantasy is the South American Tomb Raider.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
Happy Singles Day by Ann Marie Walker book cover via GoodReads
Paige Parker is a professional organizer and everything in her life is perfectly… organized. Now she’s got a perfect vacation planned in honor of Singles Day. Unfortunately, her perfect vacation is set in a dormant bed & breakfast run by single father Lucas Croft.When Paige comes to town, their respective worlds collide. Even though this book isn’t out yet, I’ve read a snippet and the sassy voice of Paige and the gruff tone of Lucas are just the thing for any romance reader.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
10. The Heiress by Molly Greeley
The Heiress by Molly Greeley book cover via GoodReads
This novel is a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice. However,instead of looking at Elizabeth andDarcy, the focus is on Anne de Bourgh. Anne has been prescribed laudanum since birth, but when her father dies and she is left with a fortune, she decides to change her fate. She moves to London and stops taking her medicine to see what life can be like if she lets herself be brave.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
11. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins book cover via GoodReads
Jane has just arrived in Alabama and as an invisible dog walker, no one would notice if she nabbed jewelry or discarded tchotchkes. No one even thinks to ask her for her real name. Until recently widowed Eddie. His wife and her best friend drowned in a boating accident, and to Jane that’s an opportunity. He’s rich and handsome which means he could offer her protection she’s only ever dreamed of. As the pair fall for each other, Jane is haunted by Bea, his dead wife. How could a plain Jane ever compare to his rags to riches wife? Full of suspense and feminist sensibility, this forbidden romance will pique your interest.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
12. People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd
People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd book cover via GoodReads
@the_mamabare is an “Instamum” who doesn’t hold back. As cracks in her marriage begin to show, the more vulnerable she becomes and her family gets closer and closer to danger. This psychological suspense is full of questions about social media and the dark side of influencer culture.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
13. If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur
If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur book cover via GoodReads
This generational novel is told in prose, poetry, and illustration about Kiran and her daughter Sahaara. Kiran is a Punjabi Sikh woman is assaulted by her fiancé’s brother and becomes pregnant with Sahaara.Her fiancé and family don’t believe her so she leaves India to start anew in Canada.Eighteen years later, Sahaara is eager to help her mother who is facing deportation. Learning the truth about her birth, Sahaara wants her mother to speak out against her attacker who is now a political figure in Punjab. This novel is filled with bonds and traumas as both women learn how to use their voice.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
14. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Lore by Alexandra Bracken book cover via GoodReads
Alexandra Bracken gave us The Darkest Minds and now she’ll be gracing us with Lore. This novel is about Lore Perseus who fled the brutal world of Agon. Instead of participating in the hunt for nine Greek gods forced to walk the earth as mortals by descendants of ancient bloodlines she pushed against the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. As the next hunt dawns, an old friend and goddess Athena seek her help. As someone who is really into Greek mythology plots, I’m definitely going to be giving this one a read.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
15. Wings of Ebony by J. Elle
Wings of Ebony by J. Elle book cover via GoodReads
A Black teen learns she has godly ancestry and she has to learn how to use the powers of her bloodline to save both her human and newfound world. Marketed as The Hunger Games meets Tomi Adeyemi and Angie Thomas, this book is sure to be fun to read as we go on an adventure with half-god and half-human Rue.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
16. I Must Belong Somewhere by Dawn Lanuza
I Must Belong Somewhere by Dawn Lanuza book cover via GoodReads
Poetry and prose, this collection is about struggle and finding the silver lining. There are a plethora of difficult themes discussed including sexism, bullying, and mental health. I think it’s a great way to ring in the new year as we consider how the world treats us versus how we should treat ourselves.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
17. You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar
You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar book cover via GoodReads
Racism is the cat that really came out of the bag in the last few years. (It’s always been out of the bag for some of us, but that’s neither here nor there.) Since race is something that we can never avoid and also something we can never experience for someone else, reading these two sisters’ absurd anecdotes about everyday experiences of racism is simply one way to practice anti-racism.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
18. You Have a Match by Emma Lord
You Have a Match by Emma Lord book cover via GoodReads
Taking a DNA test isn’t supposed to be anything more than a way to get Leo to notice Abby, until it is. Her report informs her she has a secret older sister, Savvy. A sister who is an Instagram star and a year and a half older than Abby. The solution? To meet her at summer camp and find out why Savvy was given up for adoption. As Abby’s crush for Leo gets bigger, she has to also learn about how to put all the awkward pieces of her family together because no matter how messy, they may also garner the greatest reward.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
19. One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite book cover via GoodReads
This novel is a fictional account not of teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith who is killed under mysterious circumstances after a social justice rally, but about her sister Happi who is left dealing with the scar of loss. Though it’s well intentioned Happi wonders why her sister is deemed “one of the good ones”, should it matter if Kenzi was good? Isn’t being human enough? This book looks like it will make me have 100 epiphanies and cry (in a good way) for hours. I’m thinking we all need to pick this one up ASAP.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
20. When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris
When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris book cover via GoodReads
Staying on a slightly similar theme with the book above, this novel is YA mystery thriller about a brown-skin, brown-eyed, black-braided girl who’s gone missing–and since she’s a Black girl, no one seems concerned. Even Jay Murphy thought his sister, Nicole, probably put herself in a situation with her drug dealer boyfriend that was no one’s fault but her own. But it’s been a while and Jay is wishing he were a better brother, so he’s going to do what the police can’t and bring her home.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
21. Roman + Jewel by Dana L. Davis
Roman + Jewel by Dana L. Davis book cover via GoodReads
Romeo and Juliet meets Hamilton? Yes please. Jerzie Jhames wants to land the lead on Broadway’s Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera with a diverse cast and modern plot twists. Unfortunately, her dreams are crushed when she is made the understudy to famous star Cinny.Tensions on set grow when a video of her and the male lead, Zeppelin Reid, goes viral. People debate who should actually play Jewel. With Cinny’s sights set on Zeppelin, Jerzie knew she shouldn’t have fallen for the lead. Star-crossed love is designed for doom. Will the play change Jerzie’s life for better or worse?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
22. The Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz & Tiffany D. Jackson
The Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz & Tiffany D. Jackson book cover via GoodReads
Malcom X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz works with author Tiffany D. Jackson to write a powerful account about Malcom X’s adolescent years in jail. This story shows us Malcom Little struggling with his past as he grapples with race, religion, and justice in the 1940s. As I mentioned earlier, reading about race is a simple but big way to open our perspectives and learn about things we cannot experience for ourselves. If you’re like me and get bored with dense non-fiction, this is a great option.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
23. The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks book cover via GoodReads
This YA Romance follows best friends Evie and Caleb. All 17 years of her life, Evie hasn’t been interested in dating since she’s been too busy with her rendezvous with both mathematics and anxiety. Until a mathematically gifted transfer student comes along. While that may seem like good news, Caleb is devastated because he figured that when Evie wanted to fall in love, it’d be with him. His logical solution is to use an online forum to woo Evie.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
24. Single and Forced to Mingle by Melissa Croce
Single and Forced to Mingle by Melissa Croce book cover via GoodReads
Melissa Croce writes a singles’ guidebook because, well, being single is a great lifestyle. She offers her sage advice with tons of humor. While this book wasn’t made with COVID-19 in mind, it’s a book I’m excited to pick up so I can stop simping about being single and just enjoy it for now.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
25. Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair
Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair book cover via GoodReads
Marina Adair writes about Beckett Hayes and Levi Rhodes finding love. Beckett runs a personal concierge service and an unofficial special needs advocate by helping train emotional support companions. But she doesn’t get a lot of spare time for her passions and definitely not for love. Until a good-natured new man comes to town impossible to resist. Levi Rhodes had to postpone his sailing trip when his father died, and his sister got pregnant. After he helps his grieving mother and plays father-figure to his niece, he finally starts considering going back out to sea… until Beckett walks into his bar and dreams.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
We hope at least a few titles on this list caught your attention! Reading has been so cathartic for me this past year, I want everybody to start reading again like we used to. Because of this, I am incredibly happy to announce that in 2021 we are also starting our very own The Tempest Book Club!
If you’re more of a lone reader type and are looking for even more book suggestions, take a look at all the 2021 releases we’re most excited about.
As promised, a note on audiobooks: Libro.fm is the first and only company that lets you purchase audiobooks directly from your favorite local bookstore.The Tempest special offer: get 2 audiobooks for the price of one ($14.99) with your first month of membership with code TheTempest. Offer only valid for new members in Canada and the U.S. through this link.
[Image description: Collage of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Rebel Rose and Rent A Boyfriend.] Via Fotojet
Now I know this year has been a drag. From the pandemic, tragedies, massacres and frankly just everything. Sometimes we all need an escape every once in a while. But, we need to remember how privileged we are to even escape. Not everybody has this luxury of escaping into a book like some of us do. Those protesting in Nigeria and Thailand certainly do not.
Now that this has been acknowledged, I want to share the most anticipated reads for November 2020.
1. Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault
[Image description: Image of Rebel Rose] Via GoodreadsCalling all Disney fans! I am pretty sure we are all aware of the story of Beauty and the Beast, right? In this novel, we go back in time to France in the 18th century, where they are on the brink of revolution. Finally, Belle has broken the curse and now her Beast has reverted back to humanity and he is now her prince. But remember, they are on the brink of revolution and if you know about the French Revolution, it was off with the heads of the aristocracy. Belle must consider if being a Queen is truly worth it or simply just a title.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
2. Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao
[Image description: Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao] Via GoodreadsIn this novel, we follow Chloe being nervous to introduce her boyfriend to her parents. But, plot twist – she doesn’t even know who her boyfriend is! To appease her parents, Chloe hires her boyfriend, Drew, from ‘Rents’, a company that trains boyfriends to impress traditional Asian parents. This is such an interesting concept and makes me think, are we commodifying humanity, for the fact Chloe is ‘renting’ a boyfriend. But, Chloe rents Drew to convince them he is worthy of their approval so they don’t marry her off to Hongbo, a total womanizer within their community. But, what if Chloe and Drew’s relationship is not as fake as they anticipated?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
[Image description: The Violent Delights by Chloe Gong] Via GoodreadsImagining a Chinese retelling of Romeo and Juliet, coupled with gang rivalry – Chloe Gong’s The Violent Delights is based in 20th century Shanghai where gang rivalry is prevalent, leaving the people of Shanghai distressed and helpless. How chaotic.
We then have Juliette Cai who is 18 and believes she is above the law and is leading the Scarlet Gang. And their rivals? White Flowers. And of course, these gangs have been fighting for generations. But, what’s most interesting is that the heir to White Flowers is her first love and betrayal. Do with that what you will. If you love Shakespearean retelling and gang rivalry – this is for you.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
4. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
[Image description: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man] Via GoodreadsIn light of everything that has happened in the world with Black Lives Matter, this book is a must. It’s time to have these conversations that people have been talking about.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
5. A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha
[Image description: A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha] Via GoodreadsA Portuguese historical fantasy – A Curse of Roses follows the story of Princess Yzabel who is cursed from eating. Here me out. With one touch of bread, it turns into roses. She attempts to bite cheese, the cheese now turns into lilies. This magic leaves her starving because any food she attempts to eat just turns into a bouquet. With a famine plaguing Portugal, she needs to decide what is the best solution for her to save her people?
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
6. Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer
[Image description: Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer] Via GoodreadsMeet Prudence Daniel – an overachiever with a disgusting attitude. Far too quick to cast judgement on her rude and lazy residents in her coastal town. But, something strange happens, one day she wakes up with the ability to cast instant karma on anybody. What a power to have. And of course, she abuses that power and wreaks havoc on anyone who irritates her. Except for this one person where he powers constantly backfire – Quint Erickson, who happens to be her enemy.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
7. A Promised Land by Barack Obama
[Image description: A Promised Land by Barack Obama] Via GoodreadsNeed I say more? With elections taking place around the world, let’s hear from the former US President, Barack Obama, who reflects on his time in the Oval Office.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
8. Perfectly Impossible by Elizabeth Topp
[Image description: Perfectly Impossible by Elizabeth Topp]For fans of the Devil Wears Prada, this is for you. The book is about an assistant to a stinking rich wife and a philanthropist, Bambi von Bizmarck. Aside from being an assistant, Anna is also an artist. But, she is met with a dilemma. Painting and all things art is her passion, her true calling. But it’s not paying the bills, at all. Whereas her position as an assistant enables her to be more successful. Follow Anna to delve into the life of the 1%. Must be nice.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
9. Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett
[Image description: Chasing Lucky by Jean Bennett] Via GoodreadsJosie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother – they are practically glued to the hip, moving from one city to the other. If you like the cliches – bad boy trope, friends to lovers, I can 100% confirm this is for you. Until one time, her and her mother move back to their historic New England town to run her family bookstore but this time it’s different. It’s only a matter of time until her grandmother returns and they move again. Until Lucky Karras re-enters her life.
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
10. Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
[Image description: Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March] Via GoodreadsYet again, another historical fiction. But, something makes it different – it’s a historical crime fiction set in colonial India. Think Indian Sherlock Holmes. Both of the women who died belonged to the same family, now this is where it gets interesting. The deaths are suspicious, but no one is talking. We meet Adi Framji, who is the husband of one of the women and ends up hiring Jim Agnihotrii, a captain in the army to help privately investigate the case. (Trigger warning: suicide.)
Get this book on The Tempest’s bookshop supporting local bookstores or on Amazon.
We truly can’t wait for these books. What are you waiting for? Get reading!
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
![[The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse), 1873–1876, oil on canvas, by Edgar Degas (Wikimedia Commons)]](https://thetempest.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/784px-edgar_degas_-_the_ballet_class_-_google_art_project.jpeg)
![[Image description: poster for our IG event Bookish Talk with Anne-Sophie] via The Tempest](https://thetempest.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Image-from-iOS-4.jpg)
![[Image description: person sitting at their computer surrounded by art supplies.] Via Pexels](https://thetempest.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/being-creative.jpg)
