Book Club Picks – Rachel Reads & Reviews

Book Club Picks

The Princess Diaries #4-6 Reread

It’s been a few month but I finally got my hands on the next three volumes in the series and wow, lots of things are happening as Mia enters the new year with her new boyfriend. Unfortunately, they’re spending the winter break away from each other and it gives Mia lots of time to anxiously…
Book Highlight: The Valentine’s Hate

If you like enemies to lovers this is the one you should read for today, Valentine’s Day. It all started when Lizzie Alonso and Brian Anderson were in second grade when he called her card stupid. Then eighth grade when an unrequited crush and bra stuffing led to the humilating Tiolet Titties nickname. Then eight…
Author Highligt: Maurene Goo

Desi Lee is a straight A, type A, school president, Standford dreaming nerd. Basically she’s winning at everything in life with waaay too many extracurriculars and an almost encyclopedic/photographic knowledge of obscue things from Middle English to trees to cars, the latter thanks to her mechanic father. When she was little, she convinced herself that…
January Books 2023

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo This debut novel tackles several issues that are rarely discussed in YA due to the stigma and shame surrounding it, and that’s why it is needed. TJ Powar is the school’s reigning debate champ alongside her cousin, Simran. She’s also considered one of the prettiest…
Nancy Drew ReRead Part 1

Ah Nancy Drew. The girl detective who basically set the mold for girl detective. I’ve always wanted to finish this series but never got around to it because I wanted too read it in order and th elibrary always had the next one checked out or something. That’s still the case but I’m going to…
Author Highlight: Julie Murphy

This bold and body-positive author always manages to hit the right note in her YA novels of being true to you no matter your size or sexuality.
Winter Books

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Someone said that this was like a modern Bridget Jones Diary but I’d say this was a bit deeper than that. Yes, the titular Queenie does have a bonkers love life and sometimes she doesn’t know how to put the oven on and her personal and business life cna get messy…
Dork Diaries ReReread

I’ve been rereading the Dork Diaries since I remembered stopping over #10 because I think I grew out of it. But I also think it changed somewhat. It felt too hard trying to be hip with hashtags and such but that might just me being an old old person. Again, I guess I grew out…
Winter Nonfiction

Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescues by Laurie Zeleski This lovely memoir combines the thoughtful examination of ‘s life with her mother after she escaped her abusive husband with her kids to create an animal rescue with stories of the animal residents that occupy her farm. I enjoy the narrative she weaves around…
Contemporary Romance of 2022

Just in time for the holiday season, I didn’t get to any Christmas romances but. . The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer With all those Christmas romances, here’s a Hannakuh surprise! Sort of. Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a rare Jewish MC with a huge secret. Her bestselling books are Christmas romances. Yes, she’s a Christmas junkie…