Night Chef by Mika Song, - ADVISABLE

Night Chef by Mika Song, 154 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $13. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence Rating: PG (Peril, hunting, crazy owl) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Night Chef (a raccoon) hides during the day in the kitchen of a restaurant. One night, after closing, while making ramen, an egg he was going to use hatches into a crow. Night Chef is determined to return the baby bird to its parents. 

Fun situations, the bit with the owl and the frogs was unexpected and scary. I loved that Night Chef has learned the rules of being a good chef and adapts those rules to different situations. All in all, a cute story with darling illustrations. 

Lisa Librarian 

Starstrike (Moonstorm #2) by Yoon Ha Lee - OPTIONAL

Starstrike (Moonstorm #2) by Yoon Ha Lee, 368 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (70 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (none); Violence: PG (frequent Sci-Fi battles, gunfights and death with moderate detail. Some intense combat scenes)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SOME

Starstrike follows Hwa Young, a 16yo Korean girl whose life is torn apart by a devastating alien strike.  Driven by grief and anger, she joins an underground resistance with her best friend Geum.  As battles escalate, Hwa must navigate fractured alliances, internal doubts, and the ever-present threat of death.  With Earth's fate hanging in the balance, she discovers the strength to lead, but is torn between who she should trust.

I liked this book because it was very fast-paced and captured my attention from the beginning.  I was eager to find out what was happening with Hwa Young after reading the first book. Although the book can be very emotional and dark at times, I felt like some students would be able to connect with this.  The world seems frighteningly realistic and I enjoyed the character development for the most part.  Some of the characters remained flat and I longed to know more about them.  Overall this was an exciting read with a lot of action.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

365 Amazing True Things To Read in Bed by Edward Brooke-Hitching and Oksana Drachkovska - ADVISABLE

365 Amazing True Things To Read in Bed by Edward Brooke-Hitching, illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska, 96 pages. NON-FICTION. Words & Pictures (Quarto), 2025. $25. 9781836004561

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed is filled with a year's worth of fascinating, bite-sized facts, anecdotes, and true stories.  Curious readers will enjoy the wild facts like diamond rain or tree dwelling fish and other weird wonders and unbelievable-but -true stories.

Brooke-Hitchings facts and stories are quite fun and interesting to read.  A reader would definitely want to take it slow by reading one or more facts over time.  

PGPowers

I am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins - OPTIONAL

I am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins, 336 pages. Penguin, 2025. $20

Language: R (8 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (self-harm, attempted suicide, sexual harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

15 yo Nell Strand feels numb and invisible. Her mom is busy with her older sister Mora who is institutionalized for her mental health, and her dad avoids addressing issues by focusing on work. To make matters more complex, her family line is cursed as each family member's magic is revealed when they turn 15. After her birthday, Nell’s own magic appears: her emotions are released from her as insects. When the insects appear, she feels the emotions vividly until the insects die. Then, she returns to numbness. As she struggles through school, a crush, and sexual harassment, she is forced to face her swarm and all its forms from angry wasps to hopeful dragonflies.

This novel in verse hooks you from the first page. The prose is rich with figurative language, which is fitting for the book’s overall metaphor of mental health tied into physical iterations of magic. The novel covers a range of mental health topics, perhaps too many as I wonder if they each get enough of a focus and resolution. Nonetheless, it’s a stunning work with the powerful message of facing your emotions. 

Nell’s mother is Afrikaans, and her dad is English. The setting is Cape Town, South Africa.

Megan, High School Librarian

This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore - OPTIONAL

This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore, 320 pages. Inkyard Press (HarperCollins), 2021. $11.

Language: R (112 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

The beach is a nice place to take pictures in the mornings, which is why Jenna, a high school senior preparing a portfolio for college, is there. And then she sees Adam going into the water in his clothes. Adam starts to call for help, and Jenna responds. He found a body in the water—one of Jenna’s classmates.

This mystery thriller is told in narrative, text messages, newspaper articles, and police investigation interviews, which makes for a fun variety for the reader. However, the skips in time from past to present could be disorienting. Lepore does a good job of making the antagonist present without giving them away for a satisfying conclusion and an overall entertaining read.

The majority of characters are implied White, and there is an LGBT character, but saying who is a spoiler. The mature content rating is for kissing, drug and alcohol use (including underage drinking), illegal activity, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for assault, corpses, and mentions of suicide and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton - ESSENTIAL

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, 512 pages. Penguin, 2025. $23

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Healthy competition between cousins )

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

In a world filled with magic, family politics, history, power, betrayal, and lack of love, Nora is supposed to be an heiress since childhood. When her mother is murdered, Nora’s future is in question. A complicated competition, the Veritas, will determine who is the future heiress. Unfortunately, a cousin no one knew existed, Lotte, enters the scene. Lotte has an equal chance at becoming the next heir but first has to win this trial to get the love and attention of her family. Add to the mix, Theo, a knight, and  August, a young journalist, and you have the “perfect storm” of love and honor intertwined with excitement and competition.

Notorious Virtues was easy to read and kept my attention throughout the book.  Instead of most “slow burns”, Notorious Virtures pulled me in right from the beginning.  The book is intriguing, entertaining, and fun to read.  It was easy to connect with all the characters, especially the underdog, Lotte. The author develops each character very well. I loved that it was written with multiple points of view. Very well written!

Reviewer: sl

Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen - ESSENTIAL

Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 304 pages. Scholastic, MARCH 2026. $19

Content: PG (deaths, dead bodies mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Oliver and Cora’s families had been friends for years, but a serious argument between the fathers ended that for good. On the morning of April 18, 1906, Cora is on her way to the docks again, hoping that today her father will return and save their family from destitution. When an earthquake hits, Cora and a Chinese girl are swallowed by the earth - and are rescued by Oliver. Now all three are trying to stay safe and search for their families, desperately hoping they are safe. Plus Cora has to stay off the radar of some local thugs who are trying to extort money from her.

Nielsen’s latest story is less about the earthquake and more about the girls trying to survive in circumstances that are aggravated by the quake. I liked that I learned things about the earthquake that I hadn’t read in other novels. Nielsen includes plenty of action and danger. Students who have read Nielsen’s other historical fiction won’t be disappointed.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Deep Secrets by Nikki Shannon Smith - OPTIONAL

Deep Secrets by Nikki Shannon Smith, 288 pages. Scholastic, APRIL 2026. $9 (paperback)

Language: G (2 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (sinking of Titanic)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

19yo Colette has abided by her mother’s orders her entire life.  While her older sister goes off to work and her younger brother goes to school, Colette is rarely let out of the house. Once a week she is allowed to go to Walter’s Market to pick up their groceries. This time, however, Colette decides to take a chance - she asks Walter for a job. Colette’s father died when she was 2yo - she knows that money is always tight and every penny helps. At Walter’s, Colette not only has more time to talk to Claude, Walter’s very handsome assistant, but Walter starts opening up about his family and about his voyage on the Titanic. Colette is drawn to Walter’s story - she feels that there may be some connection between his story and hers, but she has no idea what it might be,

Smith spends so much effort into holding close to the secrets within the stories, both past and present, that I felt little connection to either. While billed as a story of the Titanic, the dribs and drabs of information feels like little reward for the reading. No, I won’t tell you Colette’s secret, but the clues are there for you to figure it out before the reveal. The cover is eye-catching and will help to sell the book if you decide to purchase it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Know You Started It by Daphne Benedis-Grab - ESSENTIAL

I Know You Started It by Daphne Benedis-Grab, 240 pages. Scholastic, APRIL 2026. $9 (paperback)

Content: PG (blackmail and blackmailable offenses mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

7th graders Dani, Kate, Liam, and Gabe are in trouble. Someone set a locker on fire and they were the first students called down to the office afterwards. Even if they didn’t do it, the rumor mill will peg them as the culprits. Dani and Kate used to be best friends, but they haven’t spoken to each other since school started. Liam is the new kid at school and he can’t figure out why no one wants to be his friend. Gabe is the 7th grade hot head and he would really like to be seen as innocent for once.  Together the four decide that they are going to have to solve the mystery of the fire, because only they care about proving their innocence.

Benedis-Grab does such a great job of building suspense and allowing tidbits of clues through at a time. Even with four main characters, the story flows well and I felt I knew each student and what was going on with them. All four of Benedis-Grab’s books are worth having.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

16 Forever by Lance Rubin - OPTIONAL

16 Forever by Lance Rubin, 368 pages. Harper, 2026. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 37  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (teens drinking, drugs mentioned, talk of desire for sex); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Carter is so excited - it's his 16yo birthday and he is ready to get his driver’s license and be free! However - his parents sadly inform him that this is the 6th time he has turned 16.  Carter regresses each year on his birthday while the rest of the world keeps moving forward, so Carter is a sophomore AGAIN. Maggie had such high hopes that Carter would finally wake up on his birthday and be 17; she really thought they had made a breakthrough. Now that Carter is again 16, however, she just wants to put her head down, ignore Carter and finish her senior year. But the pair are drawn to each other despite themselves. 

Watching Carter react to being 16 again while his younger brother is now older than he is and his teachers are starting to retire is a bit heart-breaking. I can almost understand why he uses his legal ID to "help out” his fellow students. Rubin skillfully builds towards the climax - you know the outcome that you want in the story, but he keeps you in suspense throughout, happy to probably dash your hopes.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Mercy by Patricia Ward - OPTIONAL

Mercy by Patricia Ward, 368 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 16  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths mentioned, attempted sexual assault alluded)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

10th grader Mercy is determined to keep her head down and not cause waves - it is the only way to survive the Sorrowing, a curse that descended upon the core families and extends to their town. The Sorrowing is a curse that unfolded more than 50 years earlier when the town’s richest man murdered his family. As long as you don’t want too much, it generally only makes you miserable instead of trying to kill you. Ben Bowen, the son of one of the core families has returned to town and his family seems to know nothing about the curse.  No one wants to tell them, but as Mercy gets to know Matteo, the son who is her age, she feels more and more obligated to clue him in. Maybe together the two of them can find the answers to questions  no one has dared to ask before there is no one left with the answers.

 Ward spends way too much of the book building up the fact that Mercy is reluctant to get involved and that everyone in the town wants to ignore the SPrrowing and just survive.  Mercy’s dithering makes for a very dull start.  WHich is too bad, because when Mercy finally does become emotionally engaged, the book finally gets interesting.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Claiming (Last Resort #2) by Jasmine Warga, - ADVISABLE

The Claiming (Last Resort #2) by Jasmine Warga, 240 pages. Scholastic, 2026. $18

Language: G (4 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (ghosts and specters)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

7th grader Teddy and his new friends Lila and Caleb defeated the Fire Maiden and sent her back to the Other Side where she belongs -- right? Then why has Lila started flickering? Sometimes she’s there and sometimes she isn’t. And the flickering is getting worse. Tedy has received some help and advice from his friends on the Phantom Hunter forum, especially Rosteen, who knows an awful lot about the spirit world. Turns out the Fire Maiden is gaining in strength - helped along by the seances the kids at their school are holding to summon her.  If the Fire Maiden isn’t stopped, Lila may be lost forever.

The Claiming is written by a different author in the same universe and with the same characters as Erin Entrada Kelly’s original. The Fire Maiden is just as creepy and introducing the seances ups the creep factor.  Neither Lila nor Teddy are confident enough to tell the popular kids to stop their nonsense, so the final scenes in the resort are delightfully stressful and creepy. 

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Kickturn by Brie Spangler - ADVISABLE

 

Kickturn by Brie Spangler, 180 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2025 $18.00 Language: G (0 swears 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some skateboarding injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

10yo Lindy travels with her family in a converted school bus through the national parks in the west. Her mom makes internet content, her dad does the filming and Lindy watches youtubes of her favorite skateboarder rather than working on her home schooling assignments. But when the bus breaks down in San Jose, Lindy makes a couple of friends who teach her how to board, and Lindy really wants to stay and live a normal life off the road. Then, when the girls find out the their idol Kentucky Jones is coming to San Jose, Lindy is willing to do almost anything to keep them from moving on, even if it means sabotaging the bus. 

I liked the conflict. Lindy unable to get her parents to see her and her problems - lots of 10 year olds feel that way. The ending ties up a bit too quickly and neatly for my taste. Spangler who is also an illustrator has filled Kickturn with great pictures but also fun skateboarding content, additional “scenes” and informative instructional panels. The print is large (14.25 point) and with all the illustrations, some full page and multi page, Kickturn is a deceptively quick read for a 4th-5th grader looking for exciting skateboard action and a nice coming of age story. The illustrations of Lindy and her family default white.

Lisa Librarian

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall - OPTIONAL

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow #2) by Kate Pearsall, 307 pages. G.P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin), 2025. $20

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (mostly only kissing, one a little heated); Violence: PG (deaths, no blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18-year-old Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths—that’s what happens when you can smell people’s lies—and building walls around herself to block them out. Like her younger sister, Linden, who can taste the feelings of others, Rowan has long resented her gift, which has taught her that everyone lies and no one is who they seem to be. So when her old nemesis, Hadrian Fitch, the biggest liar of them all, shows up on her front porch—bloodied, broken, and asking for help only she can give—her first instinct is distrust. But something new is stalking the forest that surrounds Caball Hollow. Now things are disappearing. At first, it’s small stuff—like letters, photos, and keys. But then, Rowan notices people around her are losing their memories. And when the body of a neighbor is found in the middle of town, Rowan knows there’s a link between this death and all the events disturbing the Hollow. Can she find what—or who—the link is before it takes another life?"

Overall, it was a good read.  I felt it was a bit slow to start and if you haven't read the first book it made it a tad bit harder to understand the characters and references from the first book, but you figure it out.   The author teased the romance but didn't really give you much to go on and could have developed that more, especially with Rowan's ability to detect lies and how that could affect her relationship with Hadrian even more. The writing was descriptive and I could imagine every little part of the small town and the forest.  Pearsall made them come alive on the pages.  I enjoyed her sister's and parent's stories (although it took me a minute to understand what happened with the parents).  Again, it was a good read and I think for Middle School and High School students, they would enjoy the series, especially if they like a bit of romance and magic. I appreciate that it was overall a clean YA book with minimal swearing.

I am guessing most characters are white.

Karen Cutchen, Library aide

Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz - OPTIONAL

Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz, 352 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $20

Language: R (92 swears, 10 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Drinking, sexual references); Violence: PG-13 (offpage murder, attempted murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  MANY

A body is discovered at the J. Everett High School of Criminology, which is not an odd occurrence as the private school hosts an annual murder mystery contest. However, this time the murder is real. 11th grader Dulce Death Castillo reluctantly agrees to help the prime suspect Sierra, who happens to be the victim’s ex-girlfriend and Dulce’s ex-friend. Sierra and Dulce haven’t talked since Dulce’s mom died in a car accident, and Sierra supported the official position that Dulce’s mom was driving drunk, which Dulce does not believe. Together with her forensic team dubbed the Wimsey’s, Dulce investigates the student’s murder amongst a web of complex relationships, affairs, police corruption, and politics.

The novel includes a collection of clues, flashbacks, and Dulce’s own “conclusions,” inviting readers to become detectives themselves. While I found a few plot elements unlikely, the pace was steady with solid twists and turns that will appeal to teenage murder-mystery fans. The characters were also nuanced. For example, Dulce struggles with forgiveness, guilt, insecurity, and a budding romance.

Dulce is Mexican American. Secondary characters are diverse including several LGBT+ characters, and Emi (Dulce's best friend) is Japanese American.

Megan, HS Librarian 

Lies My Memory Told Me by Sacha Wunsch - ADVISABLE

Lies My Memory Told Me by Sacha Wunsch, 320 pages. Inkyard Press (HarperCollins), 2021. $19.

Language: R (73 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Enhanced memory (EM) technology does so much good for the world, and Nova’s parents are the ones who invented it! Nova (17yo) doesn’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy it—until she meets Kade. Kade’s experiences show Nova a dark side to EM, a side of secrets that gets darker than either of them ever imagined.

Here come a couple of teenagers out to save the world from the evils of technology misuse. I appreciate the commentary on being mindful of technology addictions and making sure that we spend time living our lives beyond screentime, and Wunsch wraps all that up in a story that eventually becomes life-or-death serious. With amazing tech, amateur sleuthing, family confrontations, and questions of identity, it’s hard to put down.

Nova is White, and Kade is half Indian half English. Andie is described as “pale” and is transgender. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, illegal activity, innuendo, and mentions of drugs, pornography, and sex. The violence rating is for corpses, blood and gore, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly - ADVISABLE

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly, 176 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $18.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Eight years after Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, his wife Catherine, or Kate, is struggling to feel up to celebrating Christmas. One of her children died earlier that year, and all the commercialization of a holiday meant to mean so much more and meant to be about Christ has left Kate forcing a smile at the Christmas party she and Charles are hosting. But then she has three marvelous experiences that breathe joy back into the celebrations.

This historical fiction story mirrors some of the elements of A Christmas Carol, and it is a lovely reimagining in a realistic setting. I was a tad disappointed about the lack of fantastical elements because I wanted to see what Connolly would do for a representation of the ghost of Christmas future, but Kate’s experiences were focused on past and present. Kate’s story is about the true meaning of Christmas, choosing to start the journey to change, and the goodness that can be found all around us.

Catherine is Scottish, and the rest of the characters are implied English. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Wild Song by Candy Gourlay - ADVISABLE

Wild Song by Candy Gourlay, 263 pages. Carolrhoda Lab (Lerner), 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (danger, off-page beating)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL; ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

16yo Luki may be the best hunter in her remote Philippine village, but as a girl she is not allowed to hunt.  When her hunting is discovered, she is pressured to get married. Instead, she jumps at the chance to join 1000 others from all around the island to travel all the way to St. Louis in America to be part of the 1904 World’s Fair. While Luki gets to see more of the world, as she wanted, she also learns a lot about human nature and even more about what she really wants from the world.

I loved this look into a place and time period I know so little about. I did a lot of research afterwards to calm my curiosity. I wish I knew that students were also going to love this - but mine, at least, don’t read much historical fiction unless it is about a war. I’m sure you knwo some adults who would love this.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats - OPTIONAL

The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls by J. Anderson Coats, 251 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2025. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

15yo Stanislava’s family came from eastern Europe to Colorado for a better life, but that life only seems to be for the boys of the family. She discovers a book at the local penny library about an immigrant girl like her who is going off to college and she aches for a better life. On the day Stanislava decides to rechristen herself as Sylvia, however, her 23yo sister Stina runs away to marry a man from another state.  Sylvia's parents oil her out of school to care for the two youngest siblings and all of the other chores that Stina always did, because their mother is too depressed to care for them.  Sylvia is having none of that.  She takes off and makes her way to Denver, where she hopes to find Stina or build herself a new life.

I don’t know how old Sylvia is - somewhere between 12 and 15, as she hasn’t started high school yet. I loved Sylvia and her adventures - there is so much more that I could have told you about. The setting is 1910. The interplay between the white community (the saviors) and the immigrants is excellent - some are empathetic and others want to “whiten” the community. I felt like I was reading a later Betsy-Tacy book. I would love to see grandparents reading this with young granddaughters. It's only OPTIONAL because historical fiction is usually a hard sell. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Love Craves Cardamom by Aashna Avachat - OPTIONAL

Love Craves Cardamom by Aashna Avachat, 296 pages. Joy Revolution (Penguin), 2025. $13

Language: R (53 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12th grader Archi is spending the last semester of her senior year studying abroad in Rajasthan, India. Fresh off a breakup, she’s looking forward to a boy-free few months exploring the place where her parents grew up and diving into her dream museum internship. But things don’t go as planned: on her very first day, she meets an incredibly attractive guy on the train, Shiv, who, coincidentally, works in the palace gardens where her museum is located. As they explore the city together, Archi and Shiv fall for each other quickly. Meanwhile, Archi thrives at her internship, where she’s planning and curating her own exhibit highlighting art stolen through imperialism and colonialism.But Shiv is hiding a secret, and when the truth comes out, will Archi understand—or will everything fall apart?

This is a sweet, satisfying romance—but it’s more than just a love story. Through Archi’s adventures with Shiv and her roommate Mohini, we get a vivid glimpse of the city’s beauty and architecture. Her work at the museum highlights artwork stolen during British imperialism, adding depth and historical awareness to the plot. There are also thoughtful mentions of support for the Hijra community, a transgender and third-gender community in India. While the romance and Shiv’s secret are a bit predictable, the story remains a fun, clean, and thoroughly enjoyable international romance. This novel is also a companion to Love Requires Chocolate, which is set in Paris.

All of the characters are Indian or of Indian descent.

A. Snow, Librarian