War is messy. Oftentimes, it’s easy to talk about conflict in terms of one side vs. the other, of the good guys vs. the bad guys, but the truth is a lot more complicated than that. And some wars, such as World War II, saw so many different players and so much action that hundreds, if not thousands, of books have been written about the conflict that spanned the globe. If you find the concept of certain wars overwhelming, or want to dig into the history a bit more, we recommend picking up any one of these new military history books to help you make sense of various wars and conflicts that have unfolded in both the distant and near past.
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There’s nothing more satisfying than watching two people who are meant to be go from bickering and resenting one another to realizing that whoops, that feeling they have for that person they think they hate might actually be…attraction? It’s confusing, it’s angsty, and we can’t get enough of it! If you’re a big fan of this trope, whether the love interests are archenemies or merely rivals, then good news! We’ve rounded up some of the best new YA enemies to lovers books that you’ll want to devour!Continue Reading
Do you love the idea of a book club, but find yourself reaching for nonfiction rather than fiction? Perhaps you like discussing books with others, but you want those discussions to be more than just a social event. Nonfiction book clubs are totally a thing, and while the core principle might be the same as book clubs that focus primarily on fiction and discussion, you can make a nonfiction book club into an organization dedicated to growth and action! Here are some ideas and nonfiction book club questions to get you started!
There’s something so atmospheric and intriguing about a good Nordic Noir book. The term, which has its origins going back to the 1990’s, describes mystery novels set in Scandinavian countries that tend to be written in a plain, straightforward style and feature protagonists that are often members of law enforcement or detectives of some kind. Bleak landscapes, brutal crimes, and morally grey areas are also recognizable elements of the sub-genre, and in recent years Nordic Noir book series have found a wide American audience thanks to the popularity of work by authors such as Henning Mankel and Stieg Larsson. If you want to explore this subgenre and you love series, here are essential Nordic noir book series to check out!
It seems like every time we turn around, there are half a dozen new voices proclaiming all of the reasons why reading and enjoying romance novels is “bad” for women. Upon closer analysis, the reasoning given is often misogynistic, not based in science, or just downright bizarre. The romance genre—and its readers—have been much maligned since the invention of romantic novels, but we are of the opinion that romance novels, particularly those being published now and in recent years, are some of the most empowering and uplifting entertainment someone of any gender can consume. So, do romance novels ruin relationships? Absolutely not. Here’s why. 
Murder, betrayal, dark secrets…all before the bell. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus helped facilitate an explosion of new twisty murder mysteries that are set against the backdrop of social circles and high school life, and now there’s going to be a TV series on Peacock that you can stream if you can’t get enough! But in the meantime, get your fill of all things dark and twisty with these books like One of Us is Lying, from old favorites to the newest releases, all featuring twisty mysteries, dark secrets, and social groups or high school settings! They’ll make your high school experience look like a walk in the park!
If you’ve spent any time on BookTok lately, you might have seen Song of Achilles a lot. This backlist title by Madeline Miller has been making the rounds, and making readers feel all the feels while also giving them a new and interesting perspective on The Iliad. It is told from the perspective of Patroclus, who must follow Achilles to war and finds everything from his friendship to his courage tested in the events that follow. It’s a queer, atmospheric, and dramatic retelling that has certainly captured the hearts of readers around the world, and now you might be wondering–what should I read next? We’ve got 15 great recommendations of books like Song of Achilles for you! 
You might have ben living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Shadow and Bone–either the trilogy of books by Leigh Bardugo, or their TV series adaptation on Netflix! Shadow and Bone was originally released as a trilogy of YA fantasy novels, and then author Bardugo expanded her fantasy world with two more duologies set in the same world–Six of Crows and King of Scars. The Netflix TV series cleverly combines the plots and characters of the first Shadow and Bone book with the characters and backstory of Six of Crows to make for a fantastic TV show, with a second season on the way! If you came to these stories by the TV show, we highly recommend that you pick up Leigh Bardugo’s books! If you’ve already read the books and are dying for season two of the show, then we recommend these books like Shadow and Bone to tide you over!
Red Rising by Pierce Brown is an exciting dystopian novel about a young man named Darrow who is a Red, the lowest caste of society that has colonized Mars. They work long, hard days to make the surface of the planet habitable for humanity, believing that their work and sacrifice will benefit future generations. But when Darrow’s wife discovers that the surface of the planet has been habitable for decades and that the Reds toil as cheap labor for the ruling class, her discovery leads to her execution…and Darrow becomes a revolutionary. Red Rising is the first in the Red Rising Saga, and it is an exciting dystopian series that has massive appeal for adult and YA readers alike. If you’re looking for more great reads after marathoning the series, then pick up any of the these sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy books like Red Rising!