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In The Devotion of Suspect X (2011), by Keigo Higashino, when Yasuko’s abusive ex-husband shows up at her apartment, they get into an altercation and he ends up dead. A single mother, Yasuko plans to turn herself into the police but worries about the effect this would have on her daughter.

A Court of Thorns and Roses was honestly way better than I expected going in. The beginning felt kind of slow and almost generic fantasy-romance, and I wasn’t totally sold on Feyre at first. But once the story really gets into the fae world, it becomes super immersive, and the tension actually starts to matter. I liked the atmosphere a lot, even though some parts felt predictable.

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Lake Effect is a must-read for fans of family drama and character-driven stories. Spanning the 1970s to the 1990s, two families deal with the fallout of an affair in a vividly described Rochester, New York. When Nina Larkin, a food writer and mother to two teenage daughters, is given a copy of The Joy of Sex from a newly divorced friend, she realizes how unfulfilling her own marriage is and soon embarks on an affair with her neighbor Finn Finegan.

We Were Liars was emotional and mysterious. At first the story felt confusing, but everything slowly came together in a powerful way. The writing style matched the themes of memory and denial really well. It explores family, secrets, and loss in a subtle but impactful way. It’s a book that stays in your head after you finish it.

-Zunairah S

Braiding Sweetgrass was calm, thoughtful, and very different from most books I’ve read. It combines science with Indigenous knowledge to show the importance of respecting nature. I liked how the author emphasized balance, gratitude, and connection to the earth. The writing felt peaceful but still educational. It’s a great book for reflection.

-Zunairah S

Five years ago, pub owners Sue and Mal Eastwood disappeared. Their nephew, Dominic, is shopping their story to various media outlets. The Killer Question (2025) lets the reader observe through text messages and other communications the lives of Sue and Mal when they owned the pub, especially the controversies that arose around the weekly trivia quiz they held on Monday nights. The situation gets even murkier when a body is found nearby.

The Scarlet Letter focused heavily on judgment, guilt, and hypocrisy. The story shows how harsh society can be, especially toward women. Some parts were slow, but the themes were strong and meaningful. It made me think about how public shame and private guilt affect people. Overall, it was a deep and reflective read.

-Zunairah S

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was powerful and eye-opening. It gave a personal and honest look into the brutality of slavery and the lack of basic human rights. What stood out most was how important education was in Douglass’s fight for freedom. The book made the injustice impossible to ignore. Even though it’s historical, its message still matters today.

-Zunairah S

I really enjoyed Jennette McCurdy’s 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, so I was excited to read her fiction debut, Half His Age (2026).

Phantasma (2024), by Kaylie Smith, is a gothic fantasy romance in which a necromancer must compete in a deadly competition at a haunted manor to find her sister. She falls in love with a phantom. There’s also a ghost cat. Need I say more?

Written by Michelle J., Teen Services

Fahrenheit 451 was unsettling but interesting to read. It made me think about censorship and how dangerous it can be when people stop questioning authority. At first the story was confusing, but the message became clearer as it went on. The book feels especially relevant when you compare it to modern society. It’s thought-provoking and meaningful.

-Zunairah S