Same!! Love a boarding school setting so much. Another really good boarding school book is True Biz - set at a deaf boarding school. Really interesting to learn more about deaf culture too
I just read prep earlier this year! I reaalllyyyy feel like I understood the main character. Curtis Sittenfeld is NOT afraid to write an unlikeable character that makes infuriating choices, but her characters are so realistic to me.
Highly recommend Man of My Dreams (also by Curtis) for a similar main character who’s just as neurotic but a little less difficult. One of my VERY all time faves
I'm working my way through the Curtis backlist! I am listening to American Wife right now per the BOP episode on backlist reading. I read "Eligible" like a month ago and really liked it too!
Me too! I re-read in 2020 and it absolutely holds up. Also, if you’re a Prep fan, do not miss the last story in “Show, Don’t Tell” (Curtis’ newest short story collection) - it’s an incredible epilogue!
Listened to this last month on Audible and then immediately bought the hardcover to keep on my writing desk because it was SO GOOD. The writing, the storytelling, the emotional journey. SO delicious!
Love this so much!! As an add on to the Magicians rec (which I also love), I would also highly recommend the Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab (author of The Invisible life of Addie LaRue, another fave). Addie LaRue was one of those books I was so obsessed with that I went and read other books by that author, and the Shades of Magic series is phenomenal!
For magic and drama WITHOUT faeries, try A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske! Or the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. Both prioritize relationships over creature-feature (and prioritze good writing over...well, what SJM does).
Seconding Freya Marske!!! I'd also add India Holton's The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (I have the second book in the series packed ready to take on holiday with me) and Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals books. Oooh and Megan Bannen's Hart and Mercy books.
So fun! The first request is my holy grail too - a couple of suggestions that I have loved that I think fit in that category - A Witch in Time and The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers and The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow.
Love this! In response to the boarding school/collegiate query, I’d also add I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. Gets some hate for a man writing the POV of a teenage girl but I thought it was excellent!
With the caveat that I haven’t read these yet (but do have copies!), for literary romance I feel like Humor Me by Cat Shook, Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter (disclosure that my best friend worked on both of these so I’m biased!), or The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan might fit the bill.
For Black, contemporary I’d suggest The Art of Scandal by Regina Black or To Be Alone with You by Jodie Slaughter (CW that TBAWY is set during covid). I’ve read both of these and they were great!
I just reread my favorite book in a long time: Still Life by Sarah Winman. She has such a lovely rhythm to her writing, and her books all make me feel safe, and happy, and cozy.
This was such a fun read! Appreciate you putting this together. Re: open door snowed in books - I recommend Triple Sec by TJ Alexander! The FMC is a bartender who falls for a female couple (thus providing a great pun for the title). The book has so much heart, plus made me crave fancy cocktails
Here to say Prep is still one of my favorite books!
Same!! Love a boarding school setting so much. Another really good boarding school book is True Biz - set at a deaf boarding school. Really interesting to learn more about deaf culture too
Yes! Loved True Biz. One of my local high schools has that in their curriculum which I think is very neat.
I just read prep earlier this year! I reaalllyyyy feel like I understood the main character. Curtis Sittenfeld is NOT afraid to write an unlikeable character that makes infuriating choices, but her characters are so realistic to me.
Highly recommend Man of My Dreams (also by Curtis) for a similar main character who’s just as neurotic but a little less difficult. One of my VERY all time faves
I'm working my way through the Curtis backlist! I am listening to American Wife right now per the BOP episode on backlist reading. I read "Eligible" like a month ago and really liked it too!
Me too! I re-read in 2020 and it absolutely holds up. Also, if you’re a Prep fan, do not miss the last story in “Show, Don’t Tell” (Curtis’ newest short story collection) - it’s an incredible epilogue!
My poor TBR. Damn you (thank you).
TALKING AT NIGHT FOREVER!!
Listened to this last month on Audible and then immediately bought the hardcover to keep on my writing desk because it was SO GOOD. The writing, the storytelling, the emotional journey. SO delicious!
Love this so much!! As an add on to the Magicians rec (which I also love), I would also highly recommend the Shades of Magic series by VE Schwab (author of The Invisible life of Addie LaRue, another fave). Addie LaRue was one of those books I was so obsessed with that I went and read other books by that author, and the Shades of Magic series is phenomenal!
Yes! Or the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik!
Yes to shades of magic! I’ll also add the ninth house series by Leigh Bardugo - academic magic set in real time and brilliant writing
(This rec also fits well with the first request - magic and drama without faeries!)
For magic and drama WITHOUT faeries, try A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske! Or the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. Both prioritize relationships over creature-feature (and prioritze good writing over...well, what SJM does).
Seconding Freya Marske!!! I'd also add India Holton's The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (I have the second book in the series packed ready to take on holiday with me) and Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals books. Oooh and Megan Bannen's Hart and Mercy books.
I also love getting people to read The Night Circus. It’s a top 3/5 for me. I’m obsessed.
For other non-fae magic, I suggest Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow, The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Absolutely here for Ninth House love! 😍
So fun! The first request is my holy grail too - a couple of suggestions that I have loved that I think fit in that category - A Witch in Time and The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers and The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow.
Love this! In response to the boarding school/collegiate query, I’d also add I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe. Gets some hate for a man writing the POV of a teenage girl but I thought it was excellent!
With the caveat that I haven’t read these yet (but do have copies!), for literary romance I feel like Humor Me by Cat Shook, Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter (disclosure that my best friend worked on both of these so I’m biased!), or The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan might fit the bill.
For Black, contemporary I’d suggest The Art of Scandal by Regina Black or To Be Alone with You by Jodie Slaughter (CW that TBAWY is set during covid). I’ve read both of these and they were great!
I just reread my favorite book in a long time: Still Life by Sarah Winman. She has such a lovely rhythm to her writing, and her books all make me feel safe, and happy, and cozy.
This book has my heart, I always love seeing other people love it as well <3
This was such a fun read! Appreciate you putting this together. Re: open door snowed in books - I recommend Triple Sec by TJ Alexander! The FMC is a bartender who falls for a female couple (thus providing a great pun for the title). The book has so much heart, plus made me crave fancy cocktails
I love this because you gave
recommendations I didn’t know I was looking for!
I didn’t realize you were a Magicians superfan Becca! Love this new fun fact. I am as well and ride hard for the show!
Just as good as the first one! Two knew recommendations added to my TBR list
I’ve solved the last one I think!! The wife before by Shanora Williams!!!
Really great recs, Becca. Thank you!