"Vladimir," by Julia May Jonas

With this cover, how can you not pick up Julia May Jonas's "Vladimir?" It is, however, not the steamy romance novel that you think. The narrator, a college professor in a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, finds herself embroiled in her husband's impropriety scandal with his students. This novel is a look at feminism, aging, and relationship power struggles, and many of us can relate. The author's cerebral writing style will keep you reading through the end as the narrative takes twists and turns through a resolution.

Review: "Dear Martin," by Nic Stone

I have wanted to read a Nic Stone novel since I saw her at the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) virtual conference. With her blue lipstick and statement earrings, she exuded cool author vibes through my computer screen. Dear Martin, her YA debut novel, published in 2017, did not disappoint. 

Justyce McAllister is the central character in this novel about what it is like to be a young Black man in a world that is constantly profiling and spinning your actions. Justyce is a star student at his prep school on his way to Yale, but when a police officer sees him in the middle of the night with his biracial ex-girlfriend, the officer assumes the worst and puts him in handcuffs. The memory of those cuffs on his wrist stays with him, and he begins thinking about everything that Martin Luther King, Jr did for Civil Rights. While some things have changed, he feels that the perception others have of him as a young Black man has not. Throughout the novel, Justyce writes letters to Martin as a form of journaling to help him process the injustice he sees and experiences. 

Stone's writing is realistic in portraying an introspective teenager examining injustice and tragedy. It is thought-provoking and may disturb you as it should. 

Book Review: "Razorblade Tears, " by S.A. Crosby

Razorblade Tears, by S.A. Cosby, is an action-packed novel that will leave you rooting for
two fathers seeking justice. Set in Virginia, this is a story about two fathers, one a Black man and a White man. Both are former convicts trying to stay on the straight and narrow. What brings them together? Deep grief. Someone has murdered their sons, leaving their 3-year-old granddaughter fatherless. After the police don't get anywhere in the investigation, the two fathers decide to take vigilante justice into their own hands. I happened to be reading this book while also watching Yellowstone. They mirrored each other in their drama, violence, and protecting your family at all costs, so it was easy for me to visualize the scenes in the book. However, this novel is more than just about a story of retribution. It also looks at how race, bigotry, sexual identity, and our communities shape us. It is about understanding that we don't all live with the same privilege. Most of all, it is a story about accepting your children for who they are before it is too late. Despite some gruesome scenes, this book left me emotional at the end. 

Review: "Marcus Vega Does Not Speak Spanish," by Pablo Cartaya

Marcus Vega Does Not Speak Spanish, by Pablo Cartaya, is a middle-grade novel is about finding yourself and your place in the world. After an incident at school leads to a suspension, the Vega family decides that it is time for a break from their everyday lives. Marcus's mom decides to use her work perks and take her sons to Puerto Rico to visit their Dad's side of the family. While his Dad has been gone from their lives for at least ten years, Melissa Vega has fond memories of her estranged husband's family. Marcus decides that this trip is an ideal time to connect with his father. Will his search be futile? As Marcus travels, the island's beauty is highlighted in the novel. Throughout his quest, he meets his Puerto Rican family, finds himself, and sees a side of his mother he has not known before. 

This heartwarming story with relatable characters is an excellent book for both parents and young readers to enjoy. 

Review: "Dial A for Aunties, " by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

Dial A for Aunties, by Jesse Q. Sutanto, is a character-driven novel that will keep you reading and laughing. If you need a murder/suspense/love story, this is the book for you. There is nothing that family won't do for each other, even hiding a dead body. Lots of foreshadowing throughout the book and Sutanto ties up everything in the end. Some of the resolutions feel a little contrived, but somehow they work and don't take away from how entertaining the novel is to read. On a deeper level, the book is about family expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves to meet those expectations even when they are self-imposed. 

Review: "The Little Paris Bookshop," by Nina George

This book was originally published in the writer's native German in 2013 and translated into English in 2019.

The Little Paris Bookshop is a novel about a bookseller that has the gift of pairing books with readers. He is a literary apothecary giving readers precisely what they need to heal their souls even though he is hiding his own pain and story of lost love.  Twenty years before, he received a letter from his lover. Assuming it is a "Dear John" letter, he stashes it away, never to be read. When he finally reads the letter he sets off on a literal and metaphoric journey to heal his broken heart.

This is a story of lost love, finding yourself, and finding new love. Nina George's writing is lush, and I found myself underlining so many passages. One of my favorite passages resonated with me because it sums up why I love books and travel. "Reading-an endless journey; a long, indeed never-ending journey that made one more temperate as well as more loving and kind" -Nina George. Whether you are traveling through the passages of a novel or in the literal sense you should always come out a better person for getting to experience a world outside your own. 

I picked up this book to read on a trip to Paris and it left me longing for the South of France. If you need a book to lose yourself in, this is the book for you. 

Review: "Olga Dies Dreaming," by Xotchil Gonzalez

 

Olga Dies Dreaming is a debut novel by Xotchil Gonzalez. It is a character-driven novel with complex, well-developed characters. The book will be officially published on January 4th, but I was able to get an early release through my Book of the Month subscription.  

While there are many layers to the themes, at its core, it is a story about family, relationships, culture, and the effects of American Imperialism on its territories. The novel is written in multi-perspective voices. On one side is Olga, an event organizer that plans lavish weddings for the elite, and the other perspective is told from her brother, Prieto, a New York Congressman. Family ties their stories together. There is their ever-present family, Tias, Tios, Primos, and from afar, their estranged mother, manipulating and influencing them through letters. 

The first half of the novel takes you through the lives of the main characters and then takes a turn in its complexity with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico. The reader will learn about the nuances of what it means for territories like Puerto Rico to be a part of the United States. While they are citizens and serve our country in the military, they have no representation in the US government or autonomy for their own economy.  

The author handles serious issues in an approachable way. This is the kind of book you will want to discuss with others. If your book club likes deep discussions, definitely check this one out.