Amanda

The prince : a devil's Duke novel

by Katharine Ashe

FICTION Ashe Katharin
Romance

Libby Shaw is determined to become a member of Edinburgh's all-male Royal College of Surgeons. Disguising herself as a man, she attends the surgical theater and nearly fools everyone. Forced to leave his home as a boy, famed portraitist Ziyaeddin is secretly the exiled prince of a distant realm. When he first met Libby, he memorized every detail of her face and drew her. But her perfect lips gave him trouble--the same lips he now longs to kiss. When Libby asks his help to hide her feminine identity from the world, Ziyaeddin agrees on one condition: she must sit for him to paint--as a woman. But what begins as a daring scheme could send them both hurtling toward danger...and an unparalleled love.

This book was just incredible. It's a beautiful romance, but it's also wonderfully written and has a great story. A woman impersonates a man so that she can attend classes to become a surgeon; she's helped by a mysterious artist. -Amanda

Thunderhead

by Douglas J Preston

FICTION Preston, Douglas J.
Adventure

The bestselling authors of "The Relic" deliver a "highly readable tale of adventure and long-ago crimes" ("Dallas Morning News"). An archeologist goes in search of the fabled Lost City of Gold, an expedition her father had begun 16 years earlier before he mysteriously vanished in southeast Utah.

This book is about an archaeologist who embarks on a dangerous expedition to learn more about her father's disappearance, and to find an ancient, lost city of gold. Fantastic! -Amanda

My plain Jane

by Cynthia Hand

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Hand Cynthia
Young Adult

You may think you know the story. Penniless orphan Jane Eyre begins a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester--and, Reader, she marries him. Or does she? Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Bronte, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

This book was so good! It was also bizarre, but in a great way. If you love Jane Eyre and YA fiction, give this a try. -Amanda

The hate u give

by Angie Thomas

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Thomas Angie
Young Adult

After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

THIS. BOOK. Listen, there's a reason this book has won so many awards. It's gorgeously written, with a relatable narrator--and it's about a hugely important, relevant topic. This book is heartbreaking and inspiring, and everybody should read it. -Amanda

Into the drowning deep

by Mira Grant

FICTION Grant Mira
Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense

"Seven years ago Atagaris set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a "mockumentary" bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they're not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life's work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost. Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves"--

This is NOT your grandma's book about mermaids. These mermaids are vicious, murderous creatures who live at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. I couldn't put this book down! It's impeccably, beautifully researched, so rich and complex, and features many strong, smart, fierce female characters. Also, it's about killer mermaids, which I loved! -Amanda

Furiously happy : a funny book about horrible things

by Jenny Lawson

eAUDIO

bad after all." Sometimes crazy is just right"--

I'd read this book before, so I knew I loved it. However, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook! Jenny Lawson reads it herself, and she's HILARIOUS! -Amanda

Howl's moving castle

by

jDVD FICTION Howl's

A young woman named Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and is turned into an old woman who is unable to tell anyone of her plight. Unable to continue her job at her mother's hat shop, she goes to the ambulatory castle of the notorious wizard Howl and insinuates herself into his household. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle and who is bound to Howl by a contract, the terms of which Calcifer cannot reveal. They promise to help each other with their problems. Like Calcifer, Howl can also see through the Witch's spell, and he and Sophie fall in love. Sophie helps Howl confront his former teacher, and the Witch of the Waste.

Such a gorgeous movie! It's very different from the book, but still beautiful. -Amanda

Howl's moving castle

by Diana Wynne Jones

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Jones, Diana Wynne
Young Adult

Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl.

I love this book so much. Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite writers of all time, and I'm sure I've read this book at least 10 times. -Amanda

Let's pretend this never happened : (a mostly true memoir)

by Jenny Lawson

eAUDIO

The creator of the Bloggess blog shares humorous stories from her life, including her awkward upbringing in Texas and her relationship with her husband.

Jenny Lawson is a ridiculous human being. She's SO funny and absurd that I had to stop listening to this at work because I kept laughing in my quiet office block. However, she also tackles some really hard subjects, like miscarriage, mental illness, and chronic illness. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which she reads. She is a fantastic reader, and I couldn't stop laughing! -Amanda

The governess game

by Tessa Dare

FICTION/Dare Tessa
Fiction, Romance

"He's been a bad, bad rake--and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson. The accidental governess. After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don't need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke's heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried--and failed--to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart . . . without risking her own. The infamous rake. Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education--in pleasure. That should prove he can't be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase's heart are crumbling . . . and he's in danger of falling, hard." --

I absolutely loved this book! Tessa Dare writes the sweetest, most comforting romances. This book features a smart, independent Filipina-American-British woman who accidentally becomes governess to two willful, traumatized little girls. After struggling to get through to them, she decides to try something unconventional: she teaches them to be pirates. I'm 100% not kidding. And the hero is basically a human cinnamon roll, with terrible self-esteem. All in all: I loved this book SO MUCH. -Amanda

The rook : a novel

by Daniel O'Malley

eAUDIO

A high-ranking member of a secret organization that battles supernatural forces wakes up in a London park with no memory, no idea who she is, and with a letter that provides instructions to help her uncover a far-reaching conspiracy.

I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! The writing is superb, and the narrator, actress Susan Duerden, is SO good. I couldn't stop listening. This book is weird, quirky, occasionally dark, and very powerful. -Amanda

A duke by default

by Alyssa Cole

FICTION Cole Alyssa
Fiction, Romance

New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and--most importantly--herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she's capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss...when she's not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr. Tavish McKenzie doesn't need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory...even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice--and his attraction to her--but when Portia accidentally discovers that he's the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project. Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?

I love this book SO much!! It's witty, smart, hilarious, and so sweet. There's a Princess Diaries plot going on, plus tons of amazing characters. And the hero is an actual modern-day swordsmith. It also deals a lot with mental illness and treatment in a very compassionate, unstigmatized way. What's not to love? -Amanda

Wicked and the wallflower

by Sarah MacLean

FICTION MacLean, Sarah
Fiction, Romance

"When Wicked Comes Calling . . .When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees--on one condition. She's seen enough of the world to believe in passion, and won't accept a marriage without it. The Wallflower Makes a Dangerous Bargain . . .Bastard son of a duke and king of London's dark streets, Devil has spent a lifetime wielding power and seizing opportunity, and the spinster wallflower is everything he needs to exact a revenge years in the making. All he must do is turn the plain little mouse into an irresistible temptress, set his trap, and destroy his enemy. For the Promise of Passion . . . But there's nothing plain about Felicity Faircloth, who quickly decides she'd rather have Devil than another. Soon, Devil's carefully laid plans are in chaos and he must choose between everything he's ever wanted . . . and the only thing he's ever desired"--Provided by publisher.

I loved this book so much!! Sarah MacLean is my favorite romance writer, and her newest book does not disappoint! -Amanda

The kiss quotient

by Helen Hoang

FICTION Hoang Helen
Fiction, Romance

"A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick. Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position... Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic.."--

This is probably the best romance novel I've read all year! It's smart, feminist, and beautifully diverse. -Amanda

The One : a novel

by John (Freelance journalist) Marrs

FICTION Marrs John
Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Romance

"How far would you go to find The One? A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you'll be matched with your perfect partner--the one you're genetically made for. That's the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love. Now five very different people have received the notification that they've been "Matched." They're each about to meet their one true love. But "happily ever after" isn't guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others ... A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences."--Provided by publisher.

I stayed up until 3am reading this book, and I have no regrets. It was incredible. It's suspenseful, romantic, disturbing, uplifting, and so many other things that shouldn't go together, but do. I can't recommend this book enough! -Amanda

Beauty queens

by Libba Bray

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Bray, Libba
Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure

When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

What happens when a plane full of teenage beauty queens crashes on a desert island? Instead of going full Lord of the Flies, they build a successful society! This book is hilarious and heartfelt, but it also is deeply satirical and intriguing. Plus, it has great diversity representation! -Amanda

We have always lived in the castle

by Shirley Jackson

eAUDIO

This audiobook is probably the best I've ever listened to! The narrator masterfully tells the story and captures the unique voice of each character. This book is creepy, atmospheric, and intense. And, the audiobook is less than 6 hours long--perfect for road trips! -Amanda

Final girls : a novel

by Riley Sager

FICTION Sager Riley
Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Suspense

Emerging as the lone survivor of a serial killer's massacre a decade earlier, Quincy Carpenter struggles to ignore traumatic memories and move on as one of a group of other survivors who look to her for answers when one of them is found dead in a suspicious suicide.

I never read scary books, but I absolutely loved this one! Strong women, a really compelling plot, and a plot twist that's still haunting me nearly a month later. I can't recommend this book enough! -Amanda

An extraordinary union

by Alyssa Cole

FICTION Cole Alyssa
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

This book is fantastic! Elle is a free black woman, serving as a Union spy during the Civil War. She clashes with another spy while they're both undercover, and sparks fly! -Amanda

The highly sensitive person in love : how your relationships can thrive when the world overwhelms you

by Elaine Aron

155.232 /Aron
Nonfiction, Self Help

Wow, this book! If you've gone through life feeling like you're different than other people, I highly recommend reading this. Great tips on how to build and maintain relationships. -Amanda

The shining

by Stephen King

FICTION King, Stephen
Horror

This is probably the only horror book I've ever read, and it's completely amazing. Gripping, compelling, intensely psychological. -Amanda

The book thief

by Markus Zusak

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Zusak, Markus
Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

This gorgeous, heartbreaking book is literally told from the perspective of Death, and is set during the Holocaust. It's so beautiful and haunting--once you read it, you'll never forget it. -Amanda

North and south

by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

FICTION Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Literary Fiction

A wonderful romance set during the Industrial Revolution. If you like Jane Austen, you'll love this! -Amanda

Drum dream girl : how one girl's courage changed music

by Margarita Engle

jE Engle
Kids, Picture Books

Follows a young Cuban girl in the 1930s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there's never been a female drummer in Cuba. Includes note about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and Anacaona, the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters.

The true story of a young Cuban girl who defied cultural norms and became a percussionist. Inspiring and beautiful! -Amanda

Furiously happy : a funny book about horrible things

by Jenny Lawson

BIOGRAPHY Lawson, Jenny
Memoir

"In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.As Jenny says: "Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos. "Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"Furiously Happy is about "taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence. It's the difference between "surviving life" and "living life". It's the difference between "taking a shower" and "teaching your monkey butler how to shampoo your hair." It's the difference between being "sane" and being "furiously happy."Lawson is beloved around the world for her inimitable humor and honesty, and in Furiously Happy, she is at her snort-inducing funniest. This is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are - the beautiful and the flawed - and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because as Jenny's mom says, "Maybe 'crazy' isn't so bad after all." Sometimes crazy is just right"--

A truly hilarious book about mental illness! -Amanda

The blue sword

by Robin McKinley

YOUNG ADULT FICTION McKinley, Robin
Young Adult, Fantasy

Harry, bored with her sheltered life in the remote orange-growing colony of Daria, discovers magic in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers.

Added by Amanda

The Tea Dragon Society

by Katie (Cartoonist) O'Neill

jGRAPHIC NOVEL O'Neill
Kids, Graphic Novels

After discovering a lost Tea Dragon in the marketplace, apprentice blacksmith Greta learns about the dying art form of Tea Dragon caretaking from the kind tea shop owners.

This book is adorable, with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters! Great for tea lovers and tweens. -Amanda

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Brontë

FICTION Bronte, Charlotte
Literary Fiction

This is probably my favorite book of all time. It's weird, creepy, romantic, empowering, and suspenseful. All around incredible. -Amanda

Pride and prejudice

by Jane Austen

FICTION Austen, Jane
Literary Fiction

The original rom-com! -Amanda

Emma

by Jane Austen

FICTION Austen, Jane
Literary Fiction

This book is HILARIOUS. Emma keeps trying to fix her friend up with different guys, but it just won't work. Nobody does it better than Jane Austen. -Amanda

The madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

by Jennifer Ashley

FICTION Ashley, Jennifer
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

In the aristocratic circles of London, 1881, everyone says Lord Ian McKenzie is crazy--and possibly a murderer--but a young widow longing for passion is determined to bare the truth about the dashing and darkly charming Scotsman.

A beautiful historical romance featuring a male lead who is on the autism spectrum. Also features a murder mystery element! This book is so wonderful and sensitive. It also kicks off a great series! -Amanda

Tess of the road

by Rachel Hartman

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Hartman Rachel
Young Adult, Fantasy

In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. When Tess's family decides the only path for her is a nunnery, she chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. The open road is a map to somewhere else-- a life where she might belong.

A very complex, poignant, lovely book about mental illness, grief, and healing, all set in a fantastical world. -Amanda

Queen Victoria's book of spells

by

SCIENCE FICTION Queen
Fiction, Fantasy

""Gaslamp Fantasy," or historical fantasy set in a magical version of the nineteenth century, has long been popular with readers and writers alike. A number of wonderful fantasy novels, including Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and The Prestige by Christopher Priest, owe their inspiration to works by nineteenth-century writers ranging from Jane Austen, the Brontë's, and George Meredith to Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and William Morris. And, of course, the entire steampunk genre and subculture owes more than a little to literature inspired by this period. Queen Victoria's Book of Spells is an anthology for everyone who loves these works of neo-Victorian fiction, and wishes to explore the wide variety of ways that modern fantasists are using nineteenth-century settings, characters, and themes. These approaches stretch from steampunk fiction to the Austen-and-Trollope inspired works that some critics call Fantasy of Manners, all of which fit under the larger umbrella of Gaslamp Fantasy. The result is eighteen stories by experts from the fantasy, horror, mainstream, and young adult fields, including both bestselling writers and exciting new talents such as Elizabeth Bear, James Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Ellen Kushner, Tanith Lee, Gregory Maguire, Delia Sherman, and Catherynne M. Valente, who present a bewitching vision of a nineteenth century invested (or cursed!) with magic"--

This book of short stories was my first introduction to the world of Gaslamp Fantasy--historical fantasy set in a magical version of the 19th century--and I was immediately in love. The stories are all magnificent, well-written, and fun to read. -Amanda

Literary witches : a celebration of magical women writers

by Taisia Kitaiskaia

809.89287 /Kitaiskaia
Nonfiction, Literary Nonfiction, Poetry

"Literary Witches draws a connection between witches and visionary writers: both are figures of formidable creativity, empowerment, and general badassery. Through poetic portraits, Taisia Kitaiskaia and Katy Horan honor the witchy qualities of well-known and obscure authors alike, including Virginia Woolf, Mira Bai, Toni Morrison, Emily Dickinson, Octavia E. Butler, Sandra Cisneros, and many more.

This book is a lot of things--biography, poetry, grimoire. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the poetry is deliciously odd. Plus, it's all about incredible female writers! -Amanda

Cocaine blues : a Phryne Fisher mystery

by Kerry Greenwood

MYSTERY Greenwood, Kerry
Fiction, Mystery

Phryne Fisher is sassy, smart, and stylish--what more could you want in a main character? I love this look into 1920s Australia--especially the descriptions of the clothes! Plus, the mystery itself is fantastically executed! -Amanda

A Scot in the dark

by Sarah MacLean

FICTION Maclean Sarah
Fiction, Romance

This book is absolutely delightful. The perfect balance of angst, lightness, and romance. Also, the punny title is just incredible! -Amanda