Hello Winter Break! If you’d like a little escapism in your reading before diving back into the next semester, check out these new books I ordered. We’ve got a heist, a magical mystery and a summer romance.
“A Million to One” by Adiba Jaigirdar
Are you ready for an all girl heist set aboard the Titanic? Dublin thief Josefa has just gotten her hands on a coveted ticket for the Titanic’s maiden voyage—but she has even bigger plans. Though the ship will be full of outrageously wealthy passengers, Josefa only has eyes for a jewel-encrusted copy of the Rubaiyat that is also traveling to America. The book is worth millions, so Josefa assembles a team to help her steal it. Told in alternating perspectives by the four young women, the action moves at a brisk pace as hidden motives and burgeoning romances are revealed. The heist story is so involving that readers might almost forget the stakes are a lot higher than our characters realize. Fun fact, the jewel-covered Rubaiyat actually was on board the Titanic! Spoilers in the link, so read at your own risk.
“Lumara” by Melissa Landers
Mystics are people who are born with the ability to use magic, and in Talia’s mind they are all crooks and liars. Talia has a congenital heart condition, and saved all of her money to seek a cure from one of the leading Mystic healers. The woman took her money but claimed there was nothing wrong with Talia. So when Talia finds out that her boyfriend Nathaniel is a Mystic, she is less than pleased. But they’re in love, and he’s invited her to meet his family at his cousin’s wedding on their private, magical island of Lumara. Talia reluctantly agrees, and is beginning to be won over by the magic and kindness of his family. Then she starts to have visions and strange dreams, and the entire wedding party falls into a coma. As the outsider, Talia is blamed and she has to investigate and attempt to clear her name. What she’ll uncover will reveal a deeper connection with her family and Mystics than she’d ever imagined. Also, this is a stand-alone, which I am all about. No cliff-hangers thank you!
“Heartbreak Boys” by Simon James Green
Look, I know winter is just starting, but I think it’s time for a summer road trip rom-com! Jack and Nate were each looking forward to a dream prom with their respective boyfriends. Instead, they find their boyfriends were cheating on them with each other, and Jack and Nate are publicly dumped that night. As their cheating exes document their perfect summer romance together on social media, Jack is determined to prove he’s doing just fine. Jack and Nate used to be best friends in elementary school, so when they end up on a spontaneous road trip together with Nate’s family, it’s the perfect opportunity to fabricate an Instagram-worthy summer love story of their own. If you guessed where this is going you’re absolutely right…I did say this is a rom-com! But with hilarious situations (you should probably not smuggle burgers into a vegetarian festival), supportive family members and insightful conversations about what it means to be yourself, this road trip is so much more than the destination.
