Eric Nguyen

A gorgeous story of perseverance, family, and the intricacies of the self 🖤. This copy is largely unread but the first few pages have a few underlines and comments before I decided it wasn’t for me! It has light scratches due to general handling. Comes with a cute bookmark!

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Minnesota

A Novel

A captivating novel about an immigrant Vietnamese family who settles in New Orleans and struggles to remain connected to one another as their lives are inextricably reshaped. This stunning debut is "vast in scale and ambition, while luscious and inviting ... in its intimacy" (The New York Times Book Review).

When Huong arrives in New Orleans with her two young sons, she is jobless, homeless, and worried about her husband, Cong, who remains in Vietnam. As she and her boys begin to settle in to life in America, she continues to send letters and tapes back to Cong, hopeful that they will be reunited and her children will grow up with a father.

But with time, Huong realizes she will never see her husband again. While she attempts to come to terms with this loss, her sons, Tuan and Binh, grow up in their absent father's shadow, haunted by a man and a country trapped in their memories and imaginations. As they push forward, the three adapt to life in America in different ways: Huong gets involved with a Vietnamese car salesman who is also new in town; Tuan tries to connect with his heritage by joining a local Vietnamese gang; and Binh, now going by Ben, embraces his adopted homeland and his burgeoning sexuality. Their search for identity--as individuals and as a family--threatens to tear them apart, un­til disaster strikes the city they now call home and they are suddenly forced to find a new way to come together and honor the ties that bind them.

Things We Lost to the Water - see description 

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Kaira Rouda

From the author of Best Day Ever comes another gripping novel of psychological suspense set in an upscale Southern California community, for fans of B. A. Paris and Shari Lapena. In the aftermath of a tragic accident, one family is keeping secrets from each other. But who's deceiving whom? And who's telling the truth? The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie.

The Favorite Daughter

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Leah Johnson

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Liz Lighty has always done her best to avoid the spotlight in her small, wealthy, and prom-obsessed midwestern high school, after all, her family is black and rather poor, especially since her mother died; instead she has concentrated on her grades and her musical ability in the hopes that it will win her a scholarship to elite Pennington College and their famous orchestra where she plans to study medicine--but when that scholarship falls through she is forced to turn to her school's scholarship for prom king and queen, which plunges her into the gauntlet of social media which she hates and leads her to discoveries about her own identity and the value of true friendships.

*softly annotated* You Should See Me in a Crown

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Walter Mosley

"Master of craft and narrative" Walter Mosley returns with this crowning achievement in the Easy Rawlins saga, in which the iconic detective's loyalties are tested on the sun-soaked streets of Southern California (National Book Foundation) 



It is 1969, and flames can be seen on the horizon, protest wafts like smoke though the thick air, and Easy Rawlins, the Black private detective whose small agency finally has its own office, gets a visit from a white Vietnam veteran. The young man comes to Easy with a story that makes little sense. He and his lover, a beautiful young woman, were attacked in a citrus grove at the city's outskirts. He may have killed a man, and the woman and his dog are now missing. Inclined to turn down what sounds like nothing but trouble, Easy takes the case when he realizes how damaged the young vet is from his war experiences--the bond between veterans superseding all other considerations.

 

The veteran is not Easy's only unlooked-for trouble. Easy's adopted daughter Feather's white uncle shows up uninvited, raising questions and unsettling the life Easy has long forged for the now young woman. Where Feather sees a family reunion, Easy suspects something else, something that will break his heart.

 

Blood Grove is a crackling, moody, and thrilling race through a California of hippies and tycoons, radicals and sociopaths, cops and grifters, both men and women. Easy will need the help of his friends--from the genius Jackson Blue to the dangerous Mouse Alexander, Fearless Jones, and Christmas Black--to make sense of a case that reveals the darkest impulses humans harbor. 

 

Blood Grove is a novel of vast scope and intimate insight, and a soulful call for justice by any means necessary.

 

Blood Grove

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Ana Menéndez

This one tho!! We follow a colorful cast - a Cuban concert pianist who performs in a nursing home, the widow of an intelligence officer and new single mother, a man waiting on his green card marriage to run its course so he can marry his lover, the building manager with a secret identity, a troubled young refugee. Each tenant imbues Lana (the new resident)with energy that will either heal or overwhelm her as she struggles with her … rather mysterious past. 

Bristling with compassion, desire, and a longing to connect, The Apartment is a portrait of the complex and at times troubled inhabitants of a single unit in a South Miami Beach building—an excavation of the literal and figurative ghosts that haunt our lives and a celebration of the communities that shine brightest in our darkest moment. An art-deco sentinel, The Helena apartment building has silently witnessed the changing face of South Miami Beach for seventy years, observing—without interfering—the countless lives housed within its walls. But a single unit has seen more life (and sometimes death) than others. Those who have called Apartment 2B home include: a Cuban concert pianist who now only plays in a nursing home; the widow of an intelligence officer raising their young daughter alone; a man waiting on a green card marriage to run its course so that he can divorce his wife and marry his lover, all of whom live together in 2B; a Tajik building manager with a secret identity; a Vietnam vet receiving packages from his ex-wife. Each tenant imbues 2B with energy that can either heal or overwhelm the latest resident, Lana. A mysterious woman struggling with her own demons, Lana mourns her beloved while unaware of the apartment’s sometimes tragic history. Distraught and alone, she is watched over by a ghost, and together these two strangers brought into community by The Helena will find a measure of comfort and purpose, gaining a new insight into what we all owe one another.

The Apartment

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Henry Hoke

I don’t think y’all understand how god-tier  this book is. Ur made me laugh so hard. It also made me cry, which is astonishing considering that I’m dead inside. 

So glad y’all are loving the annotated books 💙 thank you to my patrons for selecting this as a book club pick!

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

"Open Throat is a blinding spotlight beam of a book that I was completely unable and unwilling to put down. I am not convinced Henry Hoke isn’t a mountain lion." —Catherine Lacey, author of Pew A lonely, lovable, queer mountain lion narrates this star-making fever dream of a novel. A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Lonely and fascinated by humanity’s foibles, the lion spends their days protecting the welfare of a nearby homeless encampment, observing obnoxious hikers complain about their trauma, and, in quiet moments, grappling with the complexities of their gender identity, memories of a vicious father, and the indignities of sentience. “I have so much language in my brain,” our lion says, “and nowhere to put it.” When a man-made fire engulfs the encampment, the lion is forced from the hills down into the city the hikers call “ellay.” As the lion confronts a carousel of temptations and threats, they take us on a tour that spans the cruel inequalities of Los Angeles and the toll of climate grief, while scrambling to avoid earthquakes, floods, and the noise of their own conflicted psyche. But even when salvation finally seems within reach, they are forced to face down the ultimate question: Do they want to eat a person, or become one? In elegiac prose woven with humor, imagination, sensuality, and tragedy, Henry Hoke’s Open Throat is a marvel of storytelling, a universal journey through a wondrous and menacing world told by a lovable mountain lion. Both feral and vulnerable, profound and playful, Open Throat is a star-making novel that brings mythmaking to real life.

* Snarky Annotations* Open Throat

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Chasten Buttigieg

Queer ya memoir 🏳️‍🌈😍 its unread but does have a few dings which are pictured! Perfect for you or a queer youth 💓💓

A Memoir

The young adult adaptation of the hopeful and refreshingly candid bestselling memoir by the husband of a former Democratic presidential candidate about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town. Completely rewritten with new stories, including resources for readers, parents, and teachers.

Growing up, Chasten Glezman Buttigieg didn't always fit in. He felt different from his father and brothers, who loved to hunt and go camping, and out of place in the rural, conservative small town where he lived. Back then, blending in was more important than feeling seen.

So, when Chasten realized he was gay, he kept that part of himself hidden away for a long, painful time. With incredible bravery, and the support of his loved ones, Chasten eventually came out--and when he did, he learned that being true to himself was the most rewarding journey of all.

Finding acceptance and self-love can seem like a tremendous challenge, but it's never impossible. With honesty, courage, and warmth, Chasten relays his experience of growing up in America and embracing his identity, while inspiring young people across the country to do the same.

I Have Something to Tell You--For Young Adults

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Jenn Bennett

Such a creative novel! Chauffeurs daughter, Jane, grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer within reach of bands she idolizes but never a vip. Until… a longtime crush on the son of a powerful musical family changes everything 

When eighteen-year-old chauffer's daughter Jane Marlow falls for Fen while still dating his brother Eddie, she lands in the middle of a longstanding competition between the two brothers that eventually threatens the future of their father's music empire.

Always Jane

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Robby Weber

A school prank turns into a fiasco, leading to a budding romance between two very  hesitant boys. Tender sports romance!

A joyful summer romance that Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue, calls "Swoon-worthy!"



This is not how soccer-star Zack Martin thought his summer would go. When the captain's prank means trouble for the whole squad, Zack's left with no choice but to take one for the team and cover for him.



Now he's trading parties and beach days for community service at a seaside conservation center--fair enough. But thanks to his new reputation, the cute intern, Chip, won't even give him a shot. Still, Zack finds himself falling for Chip between dolphin encounters and shark costume disasters, which means he suddenly has way more on the line than he ever expected.



Zack may be good at winning on the field, but can he keep up the lie without losing himself? 



 

I Like Me Better

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Lindsay Eagar

A girl born with feathers and a beak is turned into a circus event and must fight for her freedom. 

Unread and near perfect save a minor blemish!

Lindsay Eagar's dazzling YA debut welcomes us backstage at the Family Fortuna circus, where wonders lie in wait to steal your breath away. You won't believe your eyes!

Beaked. Feathered. Monstrous. Avita was born to be a star. Her tent sells out nightly, and every performance incites bloodcurdling screams. She's the most lucrative circus act from Texas to Tacoma, the crown jewel of the Family Fortuna, and Avita feeds on the shrieks, the gasps, the fear. But when a handsome young artist arrives to create posters of the performers, she's appalled by his rendering of Bird Girl. Is that all he sees? A hideous monster--all sharp beak and razor teeth, obsidian eyes and ruffled feathers? Determined to be more, Avita devises a plan to snatch freedom out from under the greased mustache of her charismatic father, the domineering proprietor and ringmaster. But will their fragile circus family survive the showdown she has in mind? By turns delightful and disturbing, bawdy and breathtaking, horrific and heartfelt, this electric and exquisitely crafted story about a family like no other challenges our every notion of what it means to be different--subject to an earful of screams--and to step out of the shadows and shine anyway.

The Family Fortuna

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Robbie Couch

After being dumped so his boyfriend can pursue more "serious" guys, a teen boy decides to prove he can be serious, too, by running for senior class president in this joyful romp from the author of The Sky Blues.

High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all--the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend-- senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey--is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.

Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.

Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too...unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.

Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey's new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.

But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?

Blaine for the Win

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Julian Winters

Unread and excellent condition save for a few pictures markings. It’s literally the black queer nerdy romance u have been seeking!

"Some books are downright fun, and Right Where I Left You is one . . . Winters sends a quiet but important message that queer Black and brown kids deserve to live happily ever after too. . . Winters weaves all of these threads-the romance, the relatable anxiety, the message - into a book that, like a crush, you won't be able to get out of your head."-The New York Times

Isaac Martin is ready to kick off summer. His last before heading off to college in the fall where he won't have his best friend, Diego. Where-despite his social anxiety-he'll be left to make friends on his own. Knowing his time with Diego is limited, Isaac enacts a foolproof plan- snatch up a pair of badges for the epic comic convention, Legends Con, and attend his first ever Teen Pride. Just him and Diego.

But when an unexpected run-in with Davi-Isaac's old crush-distracts him the day tickets go on sale, suddenly he's two badges short of a perfect summer. Even worse, now he's left making it up to Diego by hanging with him and his gamer buddies. Decidedly NOT part of the original plan. It's not all bad, though. Some of Diego's friends turn out to be pretty cool, and when things with Davi start heating up, Isaac is almost able to forget about his Legends Con blunder. Almost. Because then Diego finds out what really happened that day with Davi, and their friendship lands on thin ice. Isaac assumes he's upset about missing the convention, but could Diego have other reasons for avoiding Isaac?


Right Where I Left You

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isn’t she pretty?? this is a tender sapphic story featuring a music festival and complex black girls.  i had my issues with the romance (as mentioned on my youtube) but overall i think it’s a valuable book and will resonate with most readers! ships in 1-2 weeks so i can add more annotations and make a away package! #hardcover #fiction #hardcover #young  #africanamericanwomen #ya #lbgtq #romance #lgbt #sapphic 


A stunning novel about being brave enough to be true to yourself, and learning to find joy even when times are unimaginably dark. Three days. Two girls. One life-changing music festival. Toni is grieving the loss of her roadie father and needing to figure out where her life will go from here -- and she's desperate to get back to loving music. Olivia is a hopeless romantic whose heart has just taken a beating (again) and is beginning to feel like she'll always be a square peg in a round hole -- but the Farmland Music and Arts Festival is a chance to find a place where she fits. The two collide and it feels like something like kismet when a bond begins to form. But when something goes wrong and the festival is sent into a panic, Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other (and music) more than they ever imagined.

Rise to the Sun ☀️ *ANNOTATED*

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honestly fxng hated this book 😂 it’s full of my observations and rants. in amazing condition! #paperback #fiction #thecloisters #thriller #suspense #hardcover #botm #darkacademia

Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

The Secret History meets Ninth House in this sinister, atmospheric novel following a circle of researchers as they uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York's famed Met Cloisters.

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers' more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

A haunting and magical blend of genres, The Cloisters is a gripping debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Jesse

@jesseonyoutube

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Eric Nguyen

Things We Lost to the Water - see description

Kaira Rouda

The Favorite Daughter

Leah Johnson

softly annotated You Should See Me in a Crown

Walter Mosley

Blood Grove

Ana Menéndez

The Apartment

Henry Hoke

* Snarky Annotations* Open Throat

Chasten Buttigieg

I Have Something to Tell You--For Young Adults

Jenn Bennett

Always Jane

Robby Weber

I Like Me Better

Lindsay Eagar

The Family Fortuna

Robbie Couch

Blaine for the Win

Julian Winters

Right Where I Left You

Leah Johnson

Rise to the Sun ☀️ ANNOTATED

Katy Hays

The Cloisters RANT Annotated!!!

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Eric Nguyen

Things We Lost to the Water - see description

Kaira Rouda

The Favorite Daughter

Leah Johnson

*softly annotated* You Should See Me in a Crown

Walter Mosley

Blood Grove

Ana Menéndez

The Apartment

Henry Hoke

* Snarky Annotations* Open Throat

Chasten Buttigieg

I Have Something to Tell You--For Young Adults

Jenn Bennett

Always Jane

Robby Weber

I Like Me Better

Lindsay Eagar

The Family Fortuna

Robbie Couch

Blaine for the Win

Julian Winters

Right Where I Left You

Leah Johnson

Rise to the Sun ☀️ *ANNOTATED*

Katy Hays

The Cloisters *RANT Annotated*!!!

Get The App

softly annotated You Should See Me in a Crown

Rise to the Sun ☀️ ANNOTATED

The Cloisters RANT Annotated!!!