The voices of characters Henry and Greta alternate in this historical fiction, bringing readers into their past love story and present-day lives where secrets, regrets (and perhaps love?) are still poignant. The Day I Left You tells the story of Greta’s mysterious departure, set against a political backdrop of the German Democratic Republic before the fall of the Berlin wall. This book would be suited for readers aged 12 and up, though older readers may better appreciate the novel’s complex political themes. The Day I Left You is an excellent read for those who enjoy romance, historical fiction, and complex characters.

The Immortal Woman spans multiple generations, beginning with Lemei, a student Red Guard leader in 1960s Shanghai. As a journalist, she witnesses an act during the Tiananmen Square protests that sparks her determination for her daughter, Lin, to move to America and remove all trace of her Chinese identity. In America (and later Canada), Lin attempts just this, but eventually faces the reality of being a Chinese-born immigrant in North America and what it means to erase her heritage. While character development is at times lacking and the vocabulary choice occasionally jarring, Su Chang paints a complex picture of intergenerational trauma and the meaning of home. This book assumes a certain level of historical knowledge, and contains some violent and sexual content, appropriate for readers 17+. There are no illustrations. A PDF guide with discussion questions is available on the publisher's website.

If you are in the process of writing a book or simply curious about the publishing world, Safekeeping is an incredible resource for any writer's toolkit. This non-fiction journal invites readers to prioritize their own essence as writers through self-reflective prompts and practical advice to get their book finished and published. Chelene Knight invites readers to reflect upon important questions that every writer should ask themself before, during, and after the publishing process, and each chapter invites readers to set intentions and affirmations to help them never lose sight of their core values. Prompts include space to write underneath that encourages readers to transform the book into a personalized resource they can revisit throughout their writing journey. As someone interested in publishing a book of my own, I found this to be a wonderful tool because it prompts writers to self-reflect, question every aspect of the writing process, and learn to set boundaries. However, its inclusion in a library might not be ideal due to the blank spaces intended to be filled in by the reader.

Wellwater, Karen Solie’s sixth book, provides thoughtful, occasionally wordy poems that interrogate the housing, environmental, and economic crises of the present. In free-verse, the poems follow something of an emotional narrative, ruminating on malaise before transitioning to a fresher series on nature. Solie brings out lyricism from decay while still underlining its ache and undesirability. Recurring imagery of agricultural practices–economic exploitation of land, at times technical diction of herbicides, GMO seed patents, trademarked chemicals, and several mentions of glyphosate–gives some poems a deliberately analytical feeling. Landlords, rent, and other pains pervade the poems; in “Toronto the Good”, landlords are suddenly able to make apartments habitable only after “renevicting” their longtime tenants. Occasionally, some elements in the poems were left a little too unsaid; for example, “Basement Suite” is about an Airbnb, but the poem’s meaning is more obvious from the back cover than the poem itself. Wellwater would be a good addition to Canadian poetry collections in public libraries.

As its name suggests, Shadow Price is a collection of poems that explores the hidden cost we attribute to everything, serving as a symbolic nod to the capitalist society we live in. Farah Ghafoor prompts us to question our collective humanity and the blissful ignorance of our actions, as well as their hidden impact on the environment and humankind. With surreal imagery and poignant wording, the reader is confronted with uncomfortable truths that challenge them to reflect on how their everyday actions contribute to larger global issues. Whether referencing the absurdity of the stock exchange, climate change denial, or the irony of self-care product marketing, Ghafoor’s words hold up a mirror to society, asking whether we still have time or if it is already too late. I personally found this collection of poems gut-wrenching, considering our current climate. The complexity of language and thematic symbolism throughout the poems make them perfectly suited for an audience of adults that are interested in social justice, climate change awareness, and environmental advocacy. I believe it would make an excellent addition to any library due to its cultural relevance and the creative way the book addresses these topics.

The South Wind is the third installment in the Four Winds series but can be read as a standalone novel. This second chance romance follows Princess Sarai of Ammara who is cursed to fall into an endless sleep on her twenty-fifth name day. She hopes an arranged marriage will alter her fate, but an ex-lover’s return complicates everything. Sarai will have to overcome her distrust of the man she once loved if she is to save her kingdom and discover how the mysterious labyrinth on the palace grounds is involved. The South Wind is an exciting read for anyone passionate about romantic storylines that include dark twists and strong-willed female characters who are still able to show vulnerability. The South Wind does contain some sexually explicit content; therefore, it would be better suited for the adult section of a public library.

I Hope You Remember is a collection of poetry that shines a light directly on all of the emotions that we otherwise leave buried deep within us. Josie Balka’s writing captures the gut-wrenching moments of insecurity, hope, and nostalgia that help shape each of our lives. The book is divided into three chapters: loving, longing, and living, a poetic alliteration of three words that, although they feel distinctly different, come together to embody what it means to truly be human. The poems within these chapters tackle lost love, immeasurable beauty standards, friendship, body image, breakups, and what-could-have-beens. As the reader, we are faced with the thought that maybe we aren't as alone as we thought. With clear prose and language I believe this book would appeal to an audience of both adults and young adults who are looking to make sense of what's beneath the surface.

In this deeply moving memoir, Hala Alyan reckons with her family, her history and her future as she embarks on a surrogacy journey to motherhood. In each chapter, through the stages of her surrogate Dee’s pregnancy from preconception to postpartum, Alyan weaves her present with fragments of her memories of the people and places that she carries with her. Like Scheherazade, she recounts stories about her family’s continuous exile and displacement from Palestine and Syria to Lebanon and the United States, her youth marked by alcoholism, the unbearable pain of repeating miscarriages and her fraying marriage, the anticipation and uncertainty of waiting for the child she has wanted more than anything in the world. Alyan’s braided narrative is both poetic and unflinchingly honest. Reflexive, profoundly personal and beautifully written, I’ll Tell You When I’m Home is a stunning literary feat sure to both break readers’ hearts and put them back together again.

Set in an upper middle-class suburb, three women use the possible presence of a panther in the community to reach their own ends: Twig, to raise money for her daughter’s cancer treatment; Emma, to distract from her HOA-violating house remodel; and Coralie, to generate enough interest in big cats for them to reach protected status in Britain. As the story unfolds, each woman gradually reveals her ulterior motives for encouraging interest in the panther, all while the rest of the community descends into hysteria. While an Cat Fight’s premise is intriguing, its underdeveloped characters made it difficult to sympathize with their motivations and the overall stakes were low, making for an unsatisfying and too-perfect ending. As an addition to a collection, this could provide an easy entry into the thriller genre for youth aged 16 and up.

Welcome to Murder Week feels like two novels in one. The mystery week is at the core of this novel; a small village in England hosts an event where participants group together to solve a fake murder set in the town. The book has the camp and romance of Shannon Hale’s Austenland. The other heart of it is a story about a daughter coming to terms with the death of her mother, and examines what she didn’t know about her often absent mother. It weaves beautifully between lighthearted and emotionally complex. I was drawn into the more personal story and laughed at the humour of the mystery week. This book would suit a public library collection, and appeal to both cozy mystery and contemporary fiction readers.

The River Is Waiting begins with a tragic event that immediately sets a heavy tone. Corby Ledbetter’s life takes a sharp turn after one terrible decision. As he adjusts to life in prison, the novel explores themes of addiction, guilt, and the complexity of forgiveness. Wally Lamb portrays the bleakness of incarceration with care, while also focusing on moments of human connection (friendship, reflection, and the possibility of healing). At times, the emotional beats can feel a little saccharine, with some redemptive moments landing too neatly given the gravity of the story. Still, Corby’s inner journey is compelling, and Lamb creates a nuanced portrait of a man reckoning with grief and regret. Relationships are messy, and forgiveness is far from guaranteed. While not always subtle, the novel invites reflection on justice, remorse, and the weight of second chances. Readers looking for a character-driven story with emotional depth will likely find much to sit with here.

An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a cozy supernatural romance about a witch in the 17th century who is transported forward in time to modern times. It’s lighthearted and funny. It kept me reading with quirky elements like talking cats and spell craft. It’s a slow-paced romantic comedy that tackles online dating and hot veterinarians that might be warlocks. While the romance is sweet, the fish-out-of-water comedy is what drives this narrative. I liked the premise and comedy, but it didn’t satisfy my hope for a romance with a lot of tension. I would recommend it to public libraries and readers who want a comedy with a little bit of romance.

The best thing about Let’s Make a Scene is that while it pairs beautifully with book one in the Theo & Cynthie series, reading book one is not a requirement. It’s a fast-paced, witty, funny, yet deeply emotional romance. The plot goes back and forth through time between the shooting of a period piece movie and its sequel many years later. The main characters Cynthie and Jack are perfectly opposed to each other as co-leads, who quickly become enemies then lovers. It’s a new up-and-coming actress versus a classically trained nepobaby leading man. All the supporting characters are loveable. What appealed to me the most was that there is a lot of character growth from the first movie in the past and the new movie in the present. It deals with tough issues like toxic relationships and emotional abuse. Yet, it also is very comical with hilarious pranks. This book would suit a public library collection.

The Book of Lost Hours is a thrilling blend of historical and science fiction. Lisavet Levy, a child hiding from the Nazis on Kristallnacht in Germany 1938, becomes trapped in the time space, a library where all of the world’s memories are stored. In 1965, Bostonian Amelia Duquesne learns of the time space after her uncle—a CIA agent for the Temporal Reconnaissance Program—is killed under mysterious circumstances. Gelfuso takes readers on a journey through time, space and memory, following both young women as they work to understand their role in remembrance. The author weaves the stories of these two women together in a way that is at times surprising and heartbreaking, all while asking important questions about the power of controlling narratives. With its unique concept and story full of government secrets, rebellion, romance and plenty of action, The Book of Lost Hours is a great read for anyone looking for an adventurous and gripping book.

In this fantasy romance novel, Emma Hamm takes readers to a world where the gods are dead, a mysterious plague threatens the kingdom of Inverholm and the only way Princess Jessamine Harmsworth can save it is through a marriage she does not want. The story has a running start in chapter 1, when Jessamine is betrayed and murdered by the groom at the wedding before the story flags and meanders for most of the book. It manages to find its momentum again for the last few chapters, but the overall effect has plot and themes of revenge and “feminine rage” (promised on the back of the book) taking a backseat in favour of romance between Jessamine and the Deathless One. This leaves the book feeling clumsier than it needs to be. The Deathless One can fit New Adult or Adult fantasy-romance collections in public libraries. Emphasis that this book falls firmly in the New Adult genre and not Young Adult (for example, the sex scenes do not fade to black).

Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar, follows a woman as she experiences two life-altering conversations one after another: her husband tells her he is leaving her for his affair partner, his coworker Maggie, and her doctor tells her she has breast cancer. Told in a beautiful first-person prose that reads like journal entries, the narrator adjusts to her new reality while reflecting on her life and relationships as a friend, daughter, partner, Asian woman, (ex)wife and mother. The relationships between the narrator and her kids, as well as with her best friend Darlene, are particularly special, highlighting the power and importance of non-romantic, unconditional love. Vulnerable, reflexive, with gut-wrenching and heartwarming moments alike, Katie Yee’s debut novel is a deeply moving exploration of devastation and rebuilding that readers are sure to continue thinking about long after finishing the last page.