Welcome back to Three to Read, book lovers! With Valentine’s Day just barely behind us, we decided to keep the love going! With that being said, none of this week’s picks are romance novels, because who said that Valentine’s Day was exclusive to relationships? A day to celebrate love should not be limited to just the romantic. Giving and receiving love from yourself, friends, and family should also be made a spectacle. Whether you celebrated Singles Awareness Day or spent the day with your loved ones, we hope you enjoy this week’s picks!
Hot Pick
by Blair Fell
SYNOPSIS:
Arlo is a 23-year-old DeafBlind man whose life and language are governed by his strict uncle and his interpreter, Molly Clinch. Cyril Brewster is an almost-middle-aged, gay, agnostic man assigned to co-interpret for Arlo in his English composition class. As Cyril and Arlo form a beautiful bond, the two soon realize that the world Arlo is living in is far from reality. Throughout the novel, we see core memories in Arlo’s life from his perspective, including the tragedy that involved his first love. Committed to uncovering the truth, Arlo and Cyril set out on a search to find his past love and piece together reality outside of his uncle and Molly’s censorship.
WHY:
Aside from writing award-winning plays, such as Naked Will and The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, and working on television series like Queer as Folk and California Connected, Blair Fell has been an ASL interpreter for almost 30 years. Not only does the novel promise to be a story of self-liberation, but it is also a valuable portrayal of the underrepresented DeafBlind community. To catch Arlo’s journey of self-discovery, you can pre-order The Sign of Home.
Coffee Shop Read
by Wendy Wax
SYNOPSIS:
Jazmine, Judith, Erin, and Sara couldn’t be any more different. One is a single mother, one is an empty nester in a wavering marriage, one was left at the altar, and one is stuck with a disapproving in-law. But when the women convene at the local historic bookstore for their book club, they discover that they are not where they thought they would be in life. Through the power of books and friendship, the women seek their own happiness. Grab a cup (or a glass) and see their stories unfold.
WHY:
Author Wendy Wax, best known for her works Ten Beach Road and My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding, is a USA TODAY bestseller. She has seamlessly woven the stories of four different women going through rough patches to create a diverse cast that anyone could find themselves in. With romantic relationships and books being the string that ties them all together, the love and sisterhood between friends prevail in this novel.
Dark Horse
by Katherine Arden
SYNOPSIS:
In the cold Russian wilderness, Vasya sits near the oven as their family nurse recants fairytales of forest spirits and Frost, the feared winter demon known for stealing souls. After her mother’s death, Vasya’s father returns with a new wife who is keen on putting an end to honoring the household and forest spirits. In addition to this, she is on a mission to wed Vasilisa away or send her to a convent. As the town is slowly decaying, Vasya must unleash the hidden power inside her to protect the ones she loves the most.
WHY:
In this first installment of the NYT bestselling series, The Winternight Trilogy, Katherine Arden uses Russian folklore to spin a tale centered around this family’s bond. Vasya has many siblings, all of which care for each other despite the tragedies they’ve experienced. The relationships between the family are imperfect, but there is no doubt that they do everything out of love. Arden shows this familial love in the last two books of the series, The Girl in the Tower and The Winter of the Witch.
Want more book recs? Check out the rest of our Three to Read series here.