Abby Kincer

Over is a warm hug of a story about a lonely widow and the failed baseball player who comes into her quiet, small-town Maine life. The expectations placed on her by her small town, his family, and her closest friends – to be sad, to grieve, to miss his presence – are burdensome; so much so that she’s essentially holed herself up in her too-big home for the past year. When former Major League Baseball pitcher Dean Tenney comes to town to escape his spectacular failure as an athlete, he rents Evvie’s apartment and the two become fast friends. This is a beautiful story about grieving – and not, about overcoming life’s hurdles and seizing the opportunities that present themselves to you, and – most heavily – about the winding path to true happiness.

Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage is the powerful, infuriating, beautiful story of a marriage destroyed by a wrongful conviction. An American Marriage answers many questions – what are the repercussions of mass / wrongful incarceration? ; can a marriage withstand anything? ; how much do we owe to the ones we love? Please take caution while reading An American Marriage if any of the following topics may trigger you: My favorite books are those that can elicit the most sincere emotions – good or bad, and An American Marriage absolutely fits into that category. From how hard Celestial’s father and Roy have had to work to be successful compared to their white counterparts, to the facts of Roy’s incarceration, and beyond – their ethnicity is an integral part of this moving, compelling story.

They Both Die at the End is the heartbreaking but hopeful story of two teenagers who, after being notified of their impending death, spend their last day of life together. They Both Die at the End is such a painful, oddly hopeful story, but it is absolutely worth the emotional turmoil. Each side story connects with Mateo and Rufus in some small, winding way, and they add elements of surprise and mystery to the story that its title had previously taken away. They Both Die at the End is such a wonderful young adult novel, packed with diversity, inclusivity, and heartbreak.

Camille Perri’s When Katie Met Cassidy is an enchanting romantic comedy that serves as a poignant reminder that love finds you when you least expect it, and with whom you least expect it. I enjoy romcoms, but they are so much better when they’re adding to the conversation of diversity and inclusion, and this story perfectly does that. The eclectic cast of characters and the excitement of a new, surprising relationship jump off every page and make for a joyous story of love and acceptance. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my thoughts on When Katie Met Cassidy.