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Skimm Reads Archive

Skimm Reads Archive
July 30, 2019

Want to know what to read next? Here are all our Skimm Reads picks. Warning: your shelf’s about to get fuller.

"Tiny Imperfections" by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

"Tiny Imperfections" by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

A ‘90s model is now the admissions director at a San Francisco private school. At work, she has everything under control. In her personal life? Not so much. Fingers crossed she gets her happily ever after.

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"Pretty Things" by Janelle Brown

"Pretty Things" by Janelle Brown

One grifter. One heiress. One complicated heist. It’s set in Lake Tahoe and reads like a page out of the Anna Delvey scandal meets “The Bling Ring.” Scammer season wasn't over then. It isn't over now.

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"Expectation" by Anna Hope

"Expectation" by Anna Hope

Three thirty-something friends live in London and grapple with yep, expectations. Their lives haven’t turned out exactly as they thought. Enter: fertility struggles, anxiety, true love, and some other relatable problems. This fresh look at the trials of adulthood gave us major Sally Rooney vibes, plus a few years.

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"Perfect Tunes" by Emily Gould

"Perfect Tunes" by Emily Gould

A songwriter arrives in NYC at the start of the millennium and falls hard for a bad boy musician. Fast forward 15 years later, she’s parenting their teenage daughter, and wondering what her life would have been like if things hadn’t turned out the way they did. It gave us "Sliding Doors" meets "Daisy Jones & The Six" vibes. Music to our ears.

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"Chosen Ones" by Veronica Roth

"Chosen Ones" by Veronica Roth

This one's the first adult novel from the author of the “Divergent” series. You'll follow five teenagers who survive catastrophic events (and an evil villain). The survivors become known as the Chosen Ones. And from there...well, things go haywire. It's perfect for anyone looking to get lost in a world that isn’t…this one.

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"The Glass Hotel" by Emily St. John Mandel

"The Glass Hotel" by Emily St. John Mandel

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The author of one of our favorite dystopian novels, “Station Eleven,” is back. Her latest follows a Ponzi scheme gone wrong and a bartender who gets caught up in it. It jumps from gorgeous luxury hotel, to federal prison, underground club, and beyond. A good pick for anyone struggling to focus right now. You won’t be able to look away.

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"My Dark Vanessa" by Kate Elizabeth Russell

"My Dark Vanessa" by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Buzzy book meets publishing world controversy meets a story made for the #MeToo era. It follows at 15-year-old student (Vanessa) who enters into an affair with her 42-year-old English teacher. 17 years later, as the #MeToo movement is unraveling, Vanessa untangles the complicated feelings about her past relationship. It’s explosive and timely and is one of those books that’ll definitely come up at the dinner table.

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"In Five Years" by Rebecca Serle

"In Five Years" by Rebecca Serle

This one follows an ambitious NYC lawyer with a big self-imposed plan: get engaged, get the law job of her dreams, and do it all by 30. She’s right on track to achieve her goals but then it all goes off course. It’s a charming love story that gave us “One Day” meets alternate universe vibes. Fingers crossed it all works out.

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"The Queen's Fortune" by Allison Pataki

"The Queen's Fortune" by Allison Pataki

The rise and fall of Napoleon but make it a romance. This historical fiction novel follows a 19th-century woman who falls in and out of love with the famous military leader turned French emperor. Spoiler: they split, she wins their breakup, and goes on to become the Queen of Sweden. The story of how this all goes down rivals the drama of “The Crown,” and is one we’re royally obsessed with.

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"Anna K" by Jenny Lee

"Anna K" by Jenny Lee

If we still had Spring Break, we'd bring this in our suitcase. In this modern retelling of Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina,” a Korean-American "it" girl must choose between her picture perfect boyfriend and a playboy slash “Count.” This one spans from NYC nightclubs to elite Connecticut society life and will have you whispering "good morning, Upper East Siders." Yes, it's giving us "Gossip Girl" meets “Crazy Rich Asians” vibes. It's already been scooped up for TV so read the book first.

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"Things in Jars" by Jess Kidd

"Things in Jars" by Jess Kidd

It's as creepy as the title sounds and we're here for it. In Victorian-era London, an accomplished female detective is tasked with solving a kidnapping. The catch? The missing child is suspected of having supernatural powers, making the hunt to find her a lot more complicated.

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"The Girl with the Louding Voice" by Abi Daré

"The Girl with the Louding Voice" by Abi Daré

This propulsive debut novel follows a 14-year-old Nigerian girl who is sold into marriage and runs away to becomes a domestic servant. She will do anything to get out of her situation and get educated. But to make it happen, she has to use her “louding” voice.

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"In the Land of Men" by Adrienne Miller

"In the Land of Men" by Adrienne Miller

"The Bold Type" hive assemble. This is the real version of what making a magazine was like in the glory days. Except set in the '90s. And filled with sexism. This memoir follows Adrienne Miller's path from a 22-year-old assistant at GQ to the first female literary editor at Esquire. Along the way, there's a lot of big egos, male-dominated rooms, and a defining relationship with one of America's greatest writers. It's an irresistible glimpse into the glory days of print magazines and the not-so-glorious behind-the-scenes moments.

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"The Regrets" by Amy Bonnaffons

"The Regrets" by Amy Bonnaffons

This is a story about a girl named Lucky...just kidding. Her name's Rachel, she’s a librarian in New York, and she’s in love with a ghost. Her man is stuck in a purgatory of sorts, and their relationship is up against time. This sounds weird (it is), but it's also sexy and worth it. It will make you think hard about life, death, and love. Perfect, since V-day is next week.

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"Uncanny Valley" by Anna Wiener

"Uncanny Valley" by Anna Wiener

Memoir alert. This behind-the-curtain debut charts one millennial’s move from a publishing job in New York to the San Francisco tech bubble. What comes next is a wild ride in startup land full of glamour and excess, toxicity and caution. Calling all fans of “The Social Network” or “Brotopia.”

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"Dear Edward" by Ann Napolitano

"Dear Edward" by Ann Napolitano

A 12-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a Los Angeles-bound plane crash. The flight is filled with a “Lost”-esque cast of characters that make the fatal crash even more devastating. The chapters alternate between pre-flight and post-crash life. If this premise doesn't hook you, the prose will. Maybe don't read this on your next flight.

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"Followers" by Megan Angelo

"Followers" by Megan Angelo

Welcome to a cautionary tale about social media. This fiction debut is like "Big Brother" meets "Ingrid Goes West," with two timelines. The first, set in 2015, is about two friends navigating internet fame. The second, set in 2051, follows reality stars who were appointed by the government (yes, the government) to film their lives. Meet, an all-too-real nightmare wrapped in an influencer bow...one you won’t be able to look away from.

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"Long Bright River" by Liz Moore

"Long Bright River" by Liz Moore

Two sisters. Two paths. There’s Mickey, a police officer with a young son. And her younger sister, Kacey, who struggles with addiction. After one of them goes missing in their Philadelphia neighborhood, the other is left to pick up the pieces. It’s a family drama nestled in a police thriller that will keep you glued all the way through.

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"Such a Fun Age" by Kiley Reid

"Such a Fun Age" by Kiley Reid

This debut novel follows a young black woman who’s accused of kidnapping the white child she’s babysitting. This sets off a complicated chain of events that delves into themes like race, privilege, and feminism. It will leave you on the edge of your seat...both while reading and later while watching. It's so good that Lena Waithe already picked up the film and TV rights.

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2019

"Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes

"Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes

This is how you make a meet-cute even cuter. In this book, a widow with a complex past establishes a friendship with a former MLB pitcher. The friendship, yep, you guessed it, turns into something more.

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"American Spy" by Lauren Wilkinson

"American Spy" by Lauren Wilkinson

This novel solves the mystery of how to make the spy thriller feel fresh. It follows a black female FBI officer on a mission to prevent the rise of Soviet influence while also fighting for her place in a profession dominated by white men. It's written as a letter to her sons and it's a letter you'll want to save. Former President Obama thinks so too, and put it on his reading list this year.

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"Furious Hours" by Casey Cep

"Furious Hours" by Casey Cep

Murders and courtrooms and unfinished books, oh my. This book takes a look at “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee, in her quest to cover a real-life Alabama murder. Lee never finished her book. This one explores why that is. It’s part true-crime, part literary tribute to one of America’s most celebrated writers.

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"All This Could Be Yours" by Jami Attenberg

"All This Could Be Yours" by Jami Attenberg

Holiday season can mean family drama, but probably not as intense as this novel. In it, a family gathers around their dying father. He's a no good, very bad man and his fam is forced to come to terms with his toxic behavior. It all take place within 24 hours but it reveals a lifetime's worth of issues.

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"Wild Game" by Adrienne Brodeur

"Wild Game" by Adrienne Brodeur

This memoir is what happens when your mom asks you to keep her big, explosive secret: an epic affair with her husband's best friend. It's written from the perspective of the now-adult daughter and the writing is as gorgeous as its Cape Cod background. It's juicy and complex and feels too 'wild' to be true.

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Olive, Again

"Olive, Again" by Elizabeth Strout

This fall, we're ordering martinis with extra olives. Yes, Olive Kitteridge is back with commentary on motherhood, loneliness, and the quirkiness of small town life in Maine. The beauty is in the writing—but even if you didn’t read the original, you’ll fall fast for this group of interrelated stories.

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"Find Me" by André Aciman

"Find Me" by André Aciman

Book clubs and wine go together like “Call Me By Your Name” and peaches. Yes, we went there. Just in time for the sequel, which picks up 15 years later. Elio’s in Paris with a new love, Oliver’s in New York and miserable, and Elio’s beloved father is divorced and on the mend. Here’s to hoping for a grand reunion but we’ll leave it to you to "find" out. (Amazon, Apple Books, Bookshop

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"American Royals" by Katharine McGee

"American Royals" by Katharine McGee

Imagine if America were a monarchy. Imagine no more. This book gives you an alternate universe in which George Washington was given a crown after the Revolutionary War. More than two centuries later, the House of Washington still rules...with forbidden love and Gossip Girl-esque drama included. Royally American.

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"Dear Girls" by Ali Wong

"Dear Girls" by Ali Wong

Netflix comedy special(s)? Check. Write, star, and produce her own rom-com? Check. Author? Check. Ali Wong is out with her first book—a collection of essays written to her daughters. It covers everything from motherhood to making it in the comedy world. Warning: you'll laugh in public while reading.

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"The Line Becomes a River" by Francisco Cantú

"The Line Becomes a River" by Francisco Cantú

This is the non-fiction story of a man who joins the US Border Patrol to better understand the place he grew up (the Southwest US border). It's equal parts personal reflection and timely meditation on a topic you're hearing a lot about: immigration.

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"The Dutch House" by Ann Patchett

"The Dutch House" by Ann Patchett

Family = complicated AF. This one’s a dark take on a modern fairytale. It's told through the story of two siblings over the course of 50 years and covers what happens when their father buys a massive estate (hence, the Dutch House). The purchase sets off a series of events that changes their family as they know it.

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"The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood

"The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood

Blessed be the sequel. Set 15 years after “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Atwood is back. So is Aunt Lydia and a lot of trouble in Gilead.

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"Red at the Bone" by Jacqueline Woodson

"Red at the Bone" by Jacqueline Woodson

This one's a Brooklyn-based saga about two families brought together by an unexpected pregnancy. Spanning multiple generations, it goes deep into race, class, sexuality, ambition, disappointment, and parenthood with prose that'll leave you breathless.

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"She Said" by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

"She Said" by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Big Reporter Energy. You know Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey as the NYT reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal and ignited the #MeToo movement. Now, they’re giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at their investigative journey.

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The Other's Gold

"The Other's Gold" by Elizabeth Ames

It’s back to school season and this book will get you in spirit. It’s about four girls who meet as college freshmen. Fast forward years into the future and they’re navigating new motherhood...with old secrets.

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"The Last Widow" by Karin Slaughter

"The Last Widow" by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter, an all-time HQ fave, is back with a new book that'll keep you up at night. In this one, a CDC scientist is mysteriously kidnapped. When an explosion hits Atlanta a month later, Slaughter's recurring characters Will Trent (an investigator) and Sara Linton (a medical examiner) become determined to get to the bottom of it all.

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"The Floating Feldmans" by Elyssa Friedland

"The Floating Feldmans" by Elyssa Friedland

Family reunions can rock the boat. This one does it on a cruise ship. When the Feldmans hit the high seas for their matriarch's 70th, a lot of drama and laughs come out in tight quarters. Think: "This is Where I Leave You" meets "The Family Stone."

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Turn of the Key Ruth Ware

"Turn of the Key" by Ruth Ware

Ruth Ware—one of our favorite thriller writers—is bringing down the house. This one's about a smart house that turns scary very quickly when a new nanny comes to work there...and a child gets murdered. Maybe don't read it alone in a house but do read it for a fast paced ride.

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Marilou Is Everywhere

"Marilou is Everywhere" by Sarah Elaine Smith

Small town girl goes missing. Sound familiar? Except in this one, another girl literally steps into her shoes. This one's like "Sliding Doors" meets "Freaky Friday" from a sharp, smart writing voice.

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Ask Again, Yes

"Ask Again, Yes" by Mary Beth Keane

Paging “Little Fires Everywhere” fans. This one’s set in a 1970s town north of Manhattan, and there’s plenty of drama on the block. You’ll follow NYPD rookies as they become neighbors, and see their lives unravel—marriage, children, tragedy, and all.

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My Friend Anna

"My Friend Anna" by Rachel DeLoache Williams

In 2018, you started reading about Anna Delvey, aka the "Soho grifter." She conned people into thinking she was a German heiress with an unlimited bank account. In this book, one of her former friends gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the scam and how she got away with it...until she didn't. This one's nonfiction but feels too wild to be true.

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The Gifted School

"The Gifted School" by Bruce Holsinger

The novel that’s telling this year’s college admissions scandal 'hold my SAT score.' It’s about families in a fictional town in Colorado where everyone’s competing to get their kids into a new, exclusive magnet school. Think: “Big Little Lies” with a bit of introspection into the concept of privilege.

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A Prayer for Travelers

"A Prayer for Travelers" by Ruchika Tomar

This one’s all about two friends in the American West. One of them vanishes, and the other sets out through the desert to save her. Think: missing-person novel meets emotional coming-of-age story. Oh, and the chapters are all out of order...so it's on you to put together the pieces.

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The Farm (Joanne Ramos)

"The Farm" by Joanne Ramos

Imagine an all-expenses paid luxury spa retreat for women. The catch? You have to carry someone else's baby to be there. This one's like "The Handmaid's Tale" meets Liane Moriarty ("Big Little Lies" author).

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Lights All Night Long

"Lights All Night Long" by Lydia Fitzpatrick

Brotherhood? Check. Murders? Check. Russia? Check. Corruption and betrayal? Check and check. This book has it all. It follows two brothers – one who confessed to a series of murders in small town Russia, and one in Louisiana who wants to prove his brother's innocence.

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Fleishman is in Trouble

"Fleishman Is in Trouble" by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

This NYTimes writer went big on the D's: divorce, drama, dating apps, and disappearances. This one’s all about the trouble that ensues when a 41-year-old man man divorces his wife and has to put the pieces back together. It’s a feminist novel nestled in a story about the messiness of marriage.

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Mrs. Everything

"Mrs. Everything" by Jennifer Weiner

The author of “In Her Shoes” takes a time machine to the 1950s in this story about two sisters growing up in Detroit. You’ll laugh and cry (into your beach towel). Par for the Jennifer Weiner course.

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City of Girls

"City of Girls" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Your favorite “Eat, Pray, Love,” author is back. This time it’s fiction and set in the NYC theater world in the 1940s. You’ll follow 19-year-old Vivian Morris after she gets kicked out of college and becomes a NYC showgirl. Pairs well with a cocktail...or two.

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The Honey Bus

"The Honey Bus" by Meredith May

This memoir goes down like honey. Because it's about beekeeping. Stick with us. When a young girl escapes a troubled childhood and goes to live with her unconventional grandfather, she learns a lot about how to take care of herself...and how to take care of bees.

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Walking on the Ceiling

"Walking on the Ceiling" by Aysegül Savas

When a young Turkish woman moves to Paris after her mother's death, she meets an older British writer. He's working on a book set in Istanbul. She has a lot of stories about Istanbul. Cue a friendship (and maybe more) developing over long walks around the city. Bonjour, intrigue.

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My Lovely Wife

"My Lovely Wife" by Samantha Downing

To give their marriage a much needed spark, this seemingly normal suburban couple turns to...murder. Again and again. Think: “Dexter” but sexier.

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Gingerbread

"Gingerbread" by Helen Oyeyemi

Once upon a time... there was an adult fairytale. This one's a reimagined version of Hansel and Gretel that follows an immigrant mother and her teenage daughter in the UK. TBD if this family finds its happy ending.

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Trust Exercise

"Trust Exercise" by Susan Choi

Think of the most dramatic theatre student from your high school. Then put dozens of them together...and you get some real drama. This one's set at a performing arts high school in the 1980s. And there's a plot twist that flips the script in more ways than one.

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Machines Like Me

"Machines Like Me" by Ian McEwan

The author of "Atonement" is back. This one is set in 1980s London...but it's an alternate universe. There's a love triangle, ethical dilemmas, robots, and AI. Cheerio, relevant topic.

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"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

We’re just some girls, standing in front of a book, asking you to read this immediately. If you haven’t already breezed through the Hulu show or picked up this uber-popular novel, what are you waiting for? It’s about a young Irish on-and-off couple who meet in high school and develop a deep connection at university and beyond. Rooney absolutely nails the pain, the euphoria, and everything in between that comes with being young and falling in and out of love with someone in the digital age. The dialogue and the details are spot-on — it’s hard to believe it’s just fiction. We’re not crying, you are. (Amazon, Apple Books, Bookshop)

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Life Will Be the Death of Me

"Life Will Be the Death of Me" by Chelsea Handler

Memoir alert. Memoir alert. Chelsea Handler’s back to drop some more of her truths. This one’s all about her year of reflection as she enters therapy, grapples with politics, and takes a stab at domestic life.

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Stay Up with Hugo Best

"Stay Up with Hugo Best" by Erin Somers

A 20-something woman gets her dream job as a writer's assistant on a late night comedy show. But it's not all laughs. When her boss—the famous host—invites her to his suburban home for the weekend, things start taking a turn. This one's timely in the #MeToo and Time's Up era.

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The Water Cure

"The Water Cure" by Sophie Mackintosh

Paging all fans of “The Handmaid's Tale.” This one's about three sisters who grew up fearing men and living on an isolated island. When three strangers suddenly arrive, everything they know comes into question. It’s feminist dystopia meets "The Virgin Suicides."

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Lost Children Archive

"Lost Children Archive" by Valeria Luiselli

A family of four takes a summer road trip from New York to Arizona. Except it's no joy ride. Their trip happens as thousands of children are trying to cross the border into the US. And the road to a solution is far from straightforward.

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Daisy Jones & The Six

"Daisy Jones & the Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

"Almost Famous" and "A Star is Born" had a baby and her name is Daisy Jones. This oral history about a fictional rock band reads like it actually happened. And you’re going to see it happen on screen—Reese Witherspoon is turning it into a series for Amazon.

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How To Skimm Your Life

"How to Skimm Your Life" by theSkimm

Want to own every aspect of your life? Meet your manual. Our book has tips on everything from going green, to investing your cash money, picking out the right bottle of wine, and more. Plus, it includes advice we've received from inspirational women.

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More Than Words

"More Than Words" by Jill Santopolo

When the owner of a fancy hotel chain dies, he leaves behind a big secret that seriously shakes up his daughter’s life. And makes her rethink her relationship status. This one--by the author of The Light We Lost—is best read at home (hint: tissues).

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March, Book Three

"March, Book 3" by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

Meet the graphic memoir trilogy you'll binge like your favorite TV show. It chronicles the life of Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. In 2016, the third book of the series became the first graphic novel to win a National Book Award. NBD.

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The Source of Self-Regard

"The Source of Self-Regard" by Toni Morrison

Fact: there can never be too many Toni Morrison books on your shelf. Her latest collection of essays, speeches, and reflections on money, race, female empowerment, and more was released earlier this week. Psst...it includes the Nobel lecture she delivered after becoming the first black author to win the award for literature. Cue the chills.

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Elbow Room

"Elbow Room" by James Alan McPherson

This collection of short stories explores race relations. In one, parents disapprove of an interracial marriage. In another, a white lawyer and black client struggle to understand each other. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1978, making McPherson the first black author to ever win the award.

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Grit

"Grit" by Angela Duckworth

If you've ever wanted to know what makes people succeed, this is the book for you. Spoiler: it's not talent. There's research, analysis, and reflection from famous psychologist Angela Duckworth. Perfect for a career slump or the next time you need some motivation.

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Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist

"Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist" by Sunil Yapa

A biracial teens gets involved in a mass protest in Seattle. Turns out, his estranged dad is the police chief on the other side of the barricades. This one's all about family, justice, and when the relationship between the two gets complicated.

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The Heirs

"The Heirs" by Susan Rieger

When the patriarch of an elite Manhattan family dies, a lot of inheritance drama comes to life. This novel is kinda like "Succession" meets "The Nest." After a week of money talk, this will give you an on-theme escape.

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When Breath Becomes Air

"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi

A 36-year-old neurosurgeon gets diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Turns out, the surgeon is also a brilliant writer who will make you cry in public. This book, published posthumously, will make sure you don’t take your health for granted. Just in time for our New Year, Healthy(ish) You week.

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What If This Were Enough?

"What If This Were Enough?" by Heather Havrilesky

Meet the collection of essays to kick off your 2019. Havrilesky writes the “Ask Polly” advice column for NYMag. This collection brings her same wit to problems you may face this year. Think self-help sans cheesy mantras.

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2018

The Terrible

"The Terrible" by Yhsa Daley-Ward

Yhsa Daley-Ward is an Insta-poet (think: quotes on your feed that give you all the feels). Her memoir might make you cry. You've been warned. But it will also make you root for her, and yourself.

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Indecent

"Indecent" by Corinne Sullivan

This read is about a female teacher’s affair with a student at a boarding school. Spoiler: it’s f’ed up.

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From the Corner of the Oval

"From the Corner of the Oval" by Beck Dorey-Stein

This book is written by former President Obama’s stenographer. Hint: the one who transcribes everything. As a 20-something, she was a fly on the wall for some of the biggest moments in political history. With a side of White House relationship drama.

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The Wife

"The Wife" by Meg Wolitzer

In this read by one of our fave authors, a talented writer lets her career aspirations slide in favor of her less-talented-but-more-successful husband. He gets all the glory, cash money, and has multiple affairs. Welcome to the 1960s. It’s now a movie starring Glenn Close. Consider our hairs raised.

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The Hate U Give

"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

After a high school student’s friend gets shot and killed by a police officer, she learns to find her voice...and use it to fight for something bigger than herself. Think: class, race, and police brutality in America. Watch it in theaters now, starring Issa Rae, Amandla Stenberg, Common, and more.

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All We Ever Wanted

"All We Ever Wanted" by Emily Giffin

Home of fried chicken, country, and a bourbon-drinking elite. When the son of a wealthy family gets involved in a Snapchat scandal, all hell breaks loose, y’all.

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Crazy Rich Asians

"Crazy Rich Asians" by Kevin Kwan

This one’s like a “Gossip Girl"...plus extra wit and a few extra billion. The movie came out in theaters earlier this year, with the first all-Asian cast set in modern times in over two decades. FYI, a sequel is already in the works.

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The Great Believers

"The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai

This novel moves between Chicago in 1985 and Paris in 2015. No ticket or time machine necessary. You'll learn about the AIDS crisis, art world, cults, and more. It was nominated for the National Book Award and Skimm HQ understands why — one HQ'r finished it in a weekend.

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Come With Me

"Come With Me" by Helen Schulman

Imagine all the paths you could've taken. Now imagine a product that could let you live them out. In this book, a tech startup develops an algorithm that does just that and uses one of its employees as the guinea pig. Think: "Sliding Doors" meets "Silicon Valley."

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Heads of the Colored People

"Heads of the Colored People" by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

This collection of stories touches on different aspects of black identity and culture. Some will make you laugh (see: moms exchanging notes through their kids' backpacks) some will make you cry (see: gun violence in America). All will keep you glued to your seat over Thanksgiving.

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The Butterfly Garden

"The Butterfly Garden" by Dot Hutchison

For when you need a new trilogy... This is the first of three books about a mysterious garden and the women trapped there. Skimm HQ already can't wait to get into book two.

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Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win

"Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win" by Jo Piazza

Tis the season for politics. In this novel, a woman leaves her Silicon Valley job to run for Senate in a highly contested state. The race is suspenseful and so is the book. You'll get into it if you're missing the midterms and you'll still get hooked if you're fatigued.

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The Witch Elm

"The Witch Elm" by Tana French

This new book from one of our favorite thriller writers is about a 27-year-old guy living a charmed life. But everything changes when he gets seriously injured, moves to his uncle's house to recuperate...and the house is haunted in more ways than one.

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Outlander

"Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon

Imagine you're torn between two lives...in different centuries. Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" book series follows a former British combat nurse in the 1940s who time travels to 18th century Scotland. Different worlds, all the feels.

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This Will Only Hurt a Little

"This Will Only Hurt a Little" by Busy Philipps

You guys. Busy Philipps has a memoir. The "Dawson's Creek" alum and everyone's favorite Instagram follow gets into everything from what it's like being a woman in Hollywood to her friendship with Michelle Williams to dealing with postpartum anxiety. Spoiler: she's not afraid to call people out along the way. Get busy.

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Fruit of the Drunken Tree

"Fruit of the Drunken Tree" by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Pablo Escobar. Female friendship. A secret. Check, check, check. This book – set in Colombia in the late '80s and '90s – follows two girls who form an unlikely friendship during the rising violence brought on by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Think: "Narcos" meets "Little Women."

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The Bucket List

"The Bucket List" by Georgia Clark

You've heard of a bucket list. Now, meet the boob bucket list. This one's about a 25-year-old woman who finds out she has a breast cancer gene mutation and struggles with the decision of whether or not to get a double mastectomy. In the meantime, she makes a "boob bucket list." Read to find out how she lives her breast life.

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The Masterpiece

"The Masterpiece" by Fiona Davis

Did you know there was an art school inside NYC's Grand Central Terminal in the 1920s? Decades later, a woman stumbles upon the remains of the abandoned school and finds a painting hidden there. Cue a quest to learn more about the mysterious artist. All aboard intrigue.

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When The Lights Go Out

"When The Lights Go Out" by Mary Kubica

Mary Kubica knows how to do thrillers. In this one, a young woman is rebuilding her life after losing her mom. But when she applies to college, there's a problem with her Social Security number: it belongs to a girl who died 17 years earlier. Cue a literal identity crisis and a mystery that'll keep you turning pages.

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Give Me Your Hand

"Give Me Your Hand" by Megan Abbott

This read gets into a very complicated female friendship. Imagine your lab partner from high school being your best friend. Fun. Then imagine her telling you a secret that changes your lives forever...and showing up decades later as your professional competition. Not as fun, but way more interesting.

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The Favorite Sister

"The Favorite Sister" Jessica Knoll

About a reality show called "Goal Diggers." It's a whodunnit murder mystery that's a little bit like if "Real Housewives" and "Shark Tank" had a reality baby.

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Hey Ladies!

"Hey Ladies!" by Caroline Moss & Michelle Markowitz

For when you go to a veryyy early viewing breakfast…Hey ladies. This book is all about women planning a bachelorette party via emails. Warning: will make you laugh out loud.

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That Kind of Mother

"That Kind of Mother" by Rumaan Alam

This will give you all the feels. A white mom gets some motherhood help from a black woman. She changes her life. In more ways than one.

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Love and Ruin

"Love and Ruin" by Paula Mclain

About a 28-year-old journalist in Spain who unexpectedly falls in love with Hemingway. As in, Ernest. And she has to decide between her job and her relationship. The struggle is real.

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The Female Persuasion

"The Female Persuasion" by Meg Wolitzer

This book follows Greer into her first job working for feminist icon Faith Frank. And her 'meant to be' love story that doesn't go as planned. It'll give you a little "The Devil Wears Prada," a little "The Affair," and a feminist history lesson along the way.

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Anatomy of a Miracle

"Anatomy of a Miracle" by Jonathan Miles

This is a novel that reads like a true story. It's about a US veteran whose paralysis from the War in Afghanistan is miraculously cured. Cue a media frenzy and you finishing this story in days.

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Educated

"Educated" by Tara Westover

This book is a memoir about a young woman from a survivalist family in Idaho. She doesn't set foot in a classroom until she's 17. But eventually winds up at one of the best colleges in the world.

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We're Going to Need More Wine

"We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union is here. Tuck into her collection of essays. She tackles what it's like to be a woman in Hollywood, working with Heath Ledger, supporting an ex that doesn't deserve her, and much more.

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The Immortalists

"The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin

This book follows four siblings over decades after a psychic tells them when they're all going to die. You won't be able to put it down.

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Grist Mill Road

"Grist Mill Road" by Christopher J. Yates

This book pairs well with its dark and twisted plot. It's about three kids who were part of a bizarre crime in the '80s. Decades later, they reunite - and surprising new details emerge.

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A Stranger in the House

"A Stranger in the House" by Shari Lapena

For when you're staying in all weekend, this book keep you busy. It's about a woman who loses her memory after a car crash...which doesn't help when the cops think she was up to something shady before the accident.

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2017

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

This book follows a family with a black mom and white dad, as the mom and kids go pick up dad from prison. The road trip does not go smoothly. This book explores America's history of inequality and Ward's writing style has been compared to Toni Morrison's. She's picked up not one, but two National Book Awards.

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Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

About a woman going down memory lane to her seemingly perfect childhood...and revealing that it wasn't so perfect after all. It's by the author who is this year's Nobel Prize winner for literature.

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Home Fire

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

It's about two families in London whose lives become intertwined when one brother leaves home to join a terror network.

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Bonfire

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

This one's about a woman that goes back to her hometown after a long time away. Think Erin Brockovich, but with all kinds of mystery.

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The Last Mrs. Parrish

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

For when you want to stay up all night under the covers... This will keep you up. In a 'can't put it down' way. It's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" with XX chromosomes.

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Little Fires Everywhere

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

For when you're in the mood for family drama that's not your own... This will have you hooked. About a mother-daughter duo that shake up a quiet suburb.

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Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Italian Riviera. Something about "Cleopatra." Richard Burton's there. Sounds weird but you won't be able to put it down. Trust us.

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Every Last Lie

Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica

A woman's husband and 4-year-old daughter get in a car crash. The husband dies, the daughter survives, and it's ruled an accident. Turns out there might have been something muuuch darker at play. Think: "True Detective" meets "Pretty Girls." Prepare for plot twists.

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Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

For your friend who's read "The Fault in our Stars" more than once... Switch gears to John Green's newest love story.

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Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Two slaves plot an escape that takes them on a real-life underground railroad through the US. This is one of those books everyone’s talking about that you will actually love, and never put down.

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Stay With Me

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo

For when you need a new author... Skimm HQ can't put down Ayobami Adebayo's first novel.

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The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye

The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz

For when you want to spend your weekend with a page turner, Lisbeth Salander is back.

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Perennials

Perennials by Mandy Berman

If you have a mini freak-out when someone says 'summer's almost over'...this is the read for you. It's about two girls who meet at summer camp and come back as counselors years later. Think: "Wet Hot American Summer" meets "The Parent Trap" meets your last summer beach read.

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The Good Daughter

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Two gunmen break into a family's home, kill the mom, and traumatize everyone else. Now, one of the daughters is a lawyer and experiences another shooting. This read is like "Law and Order" meets "The Good Wife."

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Fierce Kingdom

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips

It's closing time at the zoo. A young mom and her four-year-old kid are the last ones to head for the exits. And then they're on the run...for the rest of the book. Warning: you'll finish this in one sitting.

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Black Edge

Black Edge by Sheelah Kolhatkar

If you like "Billions," this read's all about the real-life hedge fund billionaire that the show is based on. And the shady ways he made a LOT of money. It's a page-turner that'll teach you quite a bit about the finance world.

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Standard Deviation

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Imagine having dinner with your SO and your ex. And deciding to all become best friends. This read is like "The Vacationers" meets Nora Ephron. Warning: you will laugh in public.

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The MIsadventures of Awkward Black Girl

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

For your friend who binged "Insecure" in one weekend. This is the star's collection of stories about awk life moments like eating alone or cybersexing. Think "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" but even more awkward.

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

About a serious introvert who opens up when she meets an off-beat IT guy. It's warm and funny...plus Reese bought the rights to this one. She also bought "Big Little Lies" and "Gone Girl." So, you'll want to read it.

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The Child Finder

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

For when you're in the mood for a mystery.

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Small Great Things

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

This is the best book one Skimm HQer has read in a long time. It's perfect for a long weekend read.

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Fitness Junkie

Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza

A satire about a small business exec on a mission to lose some lbs – or she'll lose her job. Enter: boutique fitness classes with screaming instructors, too many green juices, and a fitness tracker that will not quit. It's not the deepest book you'll ever read. But it's the kind of frothy escapism that's perfect for a long weekend.

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Rich People Problems

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

This is part three of a series about some very crazy, very rich Asians. It's well-written escapism that'll get you through a beach weekend.

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Our Little Racket

Our Little Racket by Angelina Baker

We all know the financial crisis. Now picture what it might have been like for a bank CEO who took a lot of the blame. Then picture what that was like for the women in his life. This read is "The Big Short" meets "The Wizard of Lies" but focused on the ladies.

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The Rules Do Not Apply

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

This memoir by the New Yorker staff writer is Cheryl Strayed meets a Nora Ephron movie. You’ll laugh, ugly cry, and finish it before the weekend’s over.

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"The Light We Lost" by Jill Santopolo

"The Light We Lost" by Jill Santopolo

This epic love story follows two people who meet in college at Columbia University on 9/11 and cross paths over the years. He goes to war zones as a photographer, while she starts a career in NYC. This read is "One Day" meets you going through an emotional rollercoaster on your couch. (Amazon, Apple Books, Bookshop)  

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Cork Dork

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

If you’ve ever had the urge to quit your desk job and head to the liquor store, meet your new read. The author spent a year drinking up the master sommelier scene around the country, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional drinker. It’s “Eat, Pray, Love” meets “Somm.” Read responsibly.

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Into the Water

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

The second book from the author of The Girl on the Train. About a town where shady things keep happening in a certain river. Mother’s Day is coming up. This one’s perfect for the mom who always has shelf space for thrillers.

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Option B

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant

In 2015, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s husband died. And everyone read her moving Facebook post about it. This is about what happened next, and how to move forward from the tough stuff.

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Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

By the lady who wrote Americanah, and who Beyonce thinks is flawless. She’s got tips on how to raise the next gen to be gender equal. Read it, and then lend it to your friend who just had a kid. It’ll take you an hour. And you’ll be glad you did.

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The Futures

The Futures by Anna Pitoniak

Boy meets girl. They fall in love and everything’s picture perfect. Until the financial crisis hits and boy gets involved in a shady deal at work. This read is “The Big Short” meets “Serendipity.”

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Don't You Cry

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

Imagine your roommate disappears and you start to realize you weren’t as close as you thought you were. As in she might’ve wanted to kill you. Yup. This page turner is “Single White Female” meets “Swimfan.”

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The Women in the Castle

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

For your friend who loves a good war drama. About a woman who plays castle with other war widows across Germany post WWII.

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And After the Fire

And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer

This mystery is about a woman who inherits what could be a hugely valuable work of art stolen during WWII. As she tries to figure out if it’s legit, she gets caught up in a tricky love triangle.

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Exit West

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

About two people who are just starting to fall in love…while their country (that sounds a lot like Syria) is falling apart. They run away through a series of doors that help people escape. This read’s like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” but set in the real world.

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All Our Wrong Todays

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

Imagine a world with flying cars, no aging, and casual trips to the moon. This one’s about a guy who lives in that world, but accidentally shifts into the reality we all know…and it might be better for him. It sounds weird, but we’re hooked. Think: “Outlander” meets “Back to the Future.”

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Lilac Girls

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Three women: a New York socialite, a German doctor, and a Polish teenager. Living completely different lives in different corners of the world during WWII. Until a series of twists and tuns pulls them all together. This read’s a page turner, inspired by real life.

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The After Party

The After Party by Anton DiSclafani

Joan Fortier is the Serena van der Woodsen of 1950s Texas. And her best friend is a little too obsessed with her (à la Georgina Sparks). This read’s a vintage version of “Gossip Girl” meets bigger hair.

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The Nix

The Nix by Nathan Hill

A college professor meets his mom for the first time in decades. And turns out she’s a criminal hippie on the run. This read’s like “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” meets “Forrest Gump.”

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Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

This memoir follows JD’s life as he goes from poverty in a white working-class Rust Belt town to Yale Law School. And somehow manages to be a little funny along the way. It’s one of those books you’ll actually enjoy and still be able to impress your SO’s parents with.

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What She Knew

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

A mother and son spend an ordinary Sunday at a park near Londontown. Until the boy goes missing. Cue dramatic music. This read’s basically “The Changeling” meets an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” but set in the UK.

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All is Not Forgotten

All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

Imagine having the ability to erase all your painful memories. After a rape in a wealthy suburb, the teenage victim gets to do just that. Problem is, it makes it a LOT harder to catch the guy. This thriller is like “Lovely Bones” meets “SVU.”

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PS: These are editorially selected, but if you purchase, theSkimm may get something in return. Thanks.

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