Bookseller Allison loves these titles.
February seems like the perfect month to revisit one of the most famous love stories. A modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Sittenfeld's take on the classic is familiar while still holding a few tricks up its sleeve. I was surprised to be just as invested in the younger Bennet sisters as I usually am in the elder, and fully enjoyed the characters' attempts to navigate an updated version of society.
Mary Oliver's essays are just as beautiful as her poems. Read them and you'll see.
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Tired of the winter and want something fun to read? Love 1800s-style love stories? This novel is perfect for you! Part Jane Austen, part Jane Eyre, and part choose your own adventure, you will want to reread multiple times to discover who you could end up with at the end.
Bridge to Terabithia is one of those beautiful books that anyone, child or adult, can identify with. It is a powerful story of friendship and grief, with beautiful artwork. One of the handful of books everyone should return to multiple times.
This is, hands down, the best cookbook I’ve ever used. Not only are Krishna’s recipes divine, but she includes the most useful information like where to buy different Indian spices or what you can use as substitutes. Even better, she includes charming anecdotes or pieces of advice (always have time to drink a glass of wine before your dinner guests arrive!) that give even more life to an already amazing guide.
If you buy this cookbook, you must start with her saag paneer recipe. It’s to die for.
What's the use of stories that aren't even true?
This enchanting story takes you through the Sea of Stories to the Kingdom of Gup, where Haroun and his friends discover the importance of words, the power of silence, and what happens when people don't care about stories. It is a lovely, important commentary on storytelling and will stick with you for a long time.
This book is full of delightful characters who I'd love to have as real friends. Nina Hill is funny enough to make you laugh out loud, heartfelt enough to make you feel better about the world, and charming enough to make you wish it didn't end. I cannot recommend it enough.
Sherlock Holmes has retired from London and is keeping bees in Sussex when he meets his new neighbor, teenager Mary Russell. Holmes immediately recognizes her brilliance as a match for his own and begins to teach her how to be a detective. Smart, engaging, and even funny, this new take on a classic character will leave you wanting more of Sherlock Holmes and his new feminist partner. (And there are so many more!)
A charming story of a girl's first love and what it means to grow up. I reread it often, and turning 30 this month (eek!) makes me even more nostalgic for the thrills of high school.
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A beautiful story about hope, determination, motherhood, and standing up for what you want and believe in. Self-named Sprout the hen taught me more about being who you want to be than any other character in a very long time. This novel is full of goodness, and the simple illustrations only add to its charm.
If you like mysteries, unusual love stories, or (metaphorical) skeletons in the closet, this book is for you. Creepy but not terrifying, Rebecca is the perfect October classic.
Winter Loon is one of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time. The characters are flawed in very real ways, but have moments of total grace and compassion that remind you how no one is all good or all bad. You will love and hope for Wes and see the world a little differently because of this story.