Hello book lovers! You’re very welcome back to another Three to Read, and I have three very exciting titles for this week. With everything that’s happening right now, I imagine we can all agree that we need a little romance, intrigue, and drama – within the confines of a new book, that is!
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Hot Pick
Never Anyone But You
by Rupert Thomson
image via amazon
Synopsis:
In the years preceding World War I, two young women meet, by chance, in a provincial town in France. Suzanne Malherbe, a shy seventeen-year-old with a talent for drawing, is completely entranced by the brilliant but troubled Lucie Schwob, who comes from a family of wealthy Jewish intellectuals. They embark on a clandestine love affair, terrified they will be discovered, but then, in an astonishing twist of fate, the mother of one marries the father of the other. As “sisters” they are finally free of suspicion, and, hungry for a more stimulating milieu, they move to Paris at a moment when art, literature, and politics blend in an explosive cocktail.
Having reinvented themselves as Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, they move in the most glamorous social circles, meeting everyone from Hemingway and Dalí to André Breton, and produce provocative photographs that still seem avant-garde today. In the 1930s, with the rise of anti-Semitism and threat of fascism, they leave Paris for Jersey, and it is on this idyllic island that they confront their destiny, creating a campaign of propaganda against Hitler’s occupying forces that will put their lives in jeopardy.
Why?
Never Anyone But You is at the intersection of romance and historical fiction, and is a thought-provoking novel that chronicles love in the face of societal, political, and social pressures. Thomson maintains the truth at the heart of the story, while capturing every wild aspect of the experiences of both women. The novel is one that encapsulates love, war, bravery, and weakness with a beautiful and emotive prose. What is particularly refreshing, is the focus on the later years of their lives and relationship, where other novels tend to focus on youth and new beginnings.
“There’s so much sheer moxie, prismatic identity, pleasure and danger in these lives…the scenes are tense, particular and embodied…wonderfully peculiar.” —New York Times Book Review
Living Room Read
Before Anyone Else
by Leslie Hooton
Does anyone else feel like our Hot Pick and Living Room read are flirting? No? Just me?
image via amazon
Synopsis:
As a designer of upscale restaurants, 30-year-old Bailey Ann Edgeworth can go into an empty space and immediately see what it would take to transform it into a beautiful and memorable spot. She learns transforming her own life is another proposition entirely. It can get messy and it doesn’t always go according to a neat blue- print. Bailey’s brother, Henry and his best friend Griffin are stars in the restaurant field. They are known as the “Color Wheel Boys” because of their renowned Buckhead restaurants Vert, Blanc and Noir. Bailey is determined to chart her own course; to not be forever known as Hank’s daughter, Henry’s sister, or “whatever” she is to Griffin.
Bailey’s dreams propel her to New York where her vision garners accolades and fame. After a perceived rejection by Griffin, she rushes into an impetuous marriage with an enigmatic English chef. Their combined charisma and desire lift them to the top of the culinary world. Just when she seems on the verge of having it all, a shocking betrayal throws Bailey’s world into chaos. She begins a spectacular downfall complete with secretive drug use, shady associates, and her career in turmoil. Just what are the secret ingredients to transforming food, a dilapidated building and one’s own life into something extraordinary?
Why?
This novel is a powerful examination of first love, ambition, and experiencing all that life throws at you. Bailey’s personal and professional evolution is akin to many coming-of-age tales, but with a truly individual flare. The story is uplifting and inspirational, leaving a certain sadness in its final pages – mostly because you have reached the end of a fun and emotive read!
”Before Anyone Else is the romantic debut we have been waiting for, a coming of age novel that is both deeply moving and creatively beautiful. With wit and dazzle, Leslie Hooton takes us through both a love story and also the cut throat restaurant business. With charm to spare, this novel is a powerful story with a dose of hostess gold woven in for good measure.” –Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis and The Favorite Daughter
Dark Horse
Berkeley Noir
by Jerry Thompson/Owen Hill
image via amazon
Synopsis:
Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city.
Brand-new stories by: Barry Gifford, Jim Nisbet, Lexi Pandell, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Mara Faye Lethem, Thomas Burchfield, Shanthi Sekaran, Nick Mamatas, Kimn Neilson, Jason S. Ridler, Susan Dunlap, J.M. Curet, Summer Brenner, Michael David Lukas, Aya de León, and Owen Hill.
From the introduction:
A town named after a British philosopher doesn’t exactly evoke visions of Goodis or Highsmith. Grifters? Dames? Cops? In Berkeley? On the surface the alleys don’t seem that dark, until we look a little closer. Possibly the most iconic visual image of Berkeley does involve cops. It’s the film with Mario Savio, atop a police car, declaring, “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part!” Now there’s a statement that sums up the spirit of noir.
Berkeley Noir asks, If not here, where? When pulling together this outstanding list of authors, we were constantly reminded of Berkeley’s rich literary history, one that swerves through varying shades of noir. Those who helped pave the way for this collection include Anthony Boucher, Janet Dawson, Margaret Cuthbert, Ellen Gilchrist, Linda Grant, Jonathan Lethem, and Barry Gifford. There will always be a place in the heart of this city where even outcasts can feel at home…The search through darkness for an authentic, eclectic voice is the most important ingredient in the rich stew that is Berkeley, California.
Why?
The Akashic Noir series is super popular, and for good reason! In a time where travel has become a distant hope and memory, it is a joy to escape into the murky world of the Berkeley noir scene. With a ton of talented authors in the collection, it is the perfect book to pick up, and take with you on your commute from bed to desk, kitchen to living room, and maybe even on that long haul to the garden!
“Berkeley, California: home of a world-class university with a parking lot for Nobel laureates, politically active and correct, volatile, and, yes, a bit seedy, too, if you know where to look. The stories in Akashic’s latest noir anthology expose the underbelly of this lovely city…All get their just rewards eventually, and readers will be entertained as they find out how it happens.”
—Booklist
There you have it! Three fresh new reads. Make sure you keep up with all things Bookstr on our socials, and we will catch you again next week! Happy reading!
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