Welcome back, book-lovers! We’re turning back the clock to reflect back on a “Three to Read” from a few weeks ago because I’m just not quite convinced these titles received all of the attention they deserve. Without further ado, here are three books that I highly recommend you check out if you haven’t done so already.
HOT PICK
I Just Wanted to Save My Family
BY STÉPHAN PÉLISSIER
Synopsis:
Stéphan Pélissier tells the true story of how he was threatened with fifteen years of prison by the Greek Justice System after having gone from France to Greece to search of his wife’s parents and siblings. They were fleeing from Syria in search of asylum, so Pélissier went there instead of having them go through the dangerous process of taking a boat to Italy. However, Pélissier was arrested due to a missing car report, thrown into prison, and then charged with human smuggling. The book then turns to depict how he had to fight to prove his innocence without losing touch with his values of human decency.
Why:
Publishers Weekly hit the nail on the head when they called it a “riveting meditation on love, family, and the perilous lives of asylum seekers.” Pélissier uses his book to have a much-needed conversation in regard to how Europe has reacted to and mishandled the Syrian War, and what the lives look like of those who have been displaced. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Stéphan Pélissier for bravely sharing his story with all of us so that we might become aware of what is happening.
COFFEE SHOP
BE DAZZLED
BY RYAN LA SALA
Synopsis:
Ryan La Sala writes about a boy named Raffy and his ex-boyfriend Luca. Raffy wants to make a name for himself by wowing the crowd of a major cosplay competition because it could open doors for him in terms of making it in the art world — be it a sponsorship, acceptance to art school, anything. However, he has to face against Luca in the competition and, not only that, they end up having to partner together in it. The book bounces back and forth between what it refers to as “then” and “now,” tracing their relationship from when Luca was just the cute soccer player at school who Raffy assumed was straight, to their dating and Raffy introducing Luca to cosplay, and then to the rest of what becomes a rollercoaster of a relationship.
Why:
It’s cheeky, it’s cute, it’s lighthearted, and it will make you smile —it’s everything you could hope for in a coffee shop read. Also, if I had a dollar for every person who called it “absolutely delightful” on Goodreads, I would be rich. Social media has been buzzing talking about La Sala’s novel and if you read it for yourself, you’ll see exactly what I and every other person on Goodreads is talking about with how great reading Be Dazzled is.
DARK HORSE
Shanghai secrets
BY SULARI GENTILL
Synopsis:
This is actually a two-for-one special because Shanghai Secrets is the most-recently released book of the Rowland Sinclair series. However, the first one was also just re-released in November through a reprinting and that novel is called A House Divided. It was originally called A Few Right Thinking Men, so if that sounds familiar, you might have read it already. It’s about Rowland Sinclair who is the black sheep of his family who is only understood by his namesake, Uncle Rowly. It is his Uncle Rowly, though, who ends up being brutally murdered in his own home. Rowland ends up doing the investigation, since the police weren’t able to figure out what happened. Fast forward to book number nine (which can also be seen under the name All The Tears in China but it’s the same book) and Rowland is now in Shanghai to represent his family at international negotiations. While there, a beautiful Russian taxi girl who he was supposed to go on a date with is found murdered in his suite. There’s then a double plot between the investigation of the girl’s murder as well as the story of her mourning brother.
Why:
First of all, if you are looking for your next long-term relationship with a book series, there are nine books in this one. That means that there are nine books before the inevitable “I just finished this amazing book and now I’m incredibly depressed” mental breakdown. Not only this, but the next books is set to be published in March! Don’t worry, I will certainly remind you of its publication in another “Three to Read.” Does that count as a spoiler? Besides the obvious fact of quantity, there is also quality. An author does not get nine-turning-ten books published if the stories are not good, and these stories are absolutely juicy.
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Please make sure to like, comment, share, and let us know what you’ll be reading next. See you all next for our next “Three to Read!”