“Seven Days In June” by Tia Williams
Even for the most skeptical romance readers, Tia Williams’ fifth novel, “Seven Days In June,” promises to be a worthwhile read. Set in New York City, readers are introduced to Eva Mercy, an erotica writer and single mom, and Shane Hall, her high school sweetheart and an elusive man in the literary world. When the pair are unexpectedly reconnected at a literary panel, their feelings resurface. With Eva balancing motherhood, chronic illness and meeting her approaching book deadline, Shane’s newfound presence in her life makes her feel justifiably overwhelmed. While this novel does include some classic tropes, such as second-chance romance, it also explores Eva and Shane’s relationship from a fully realized, relatable and fresh perspective through added depth.
— Skylar Boilard, Arts Editor
“Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves” by Sophie Gilbert
Covering a timeline from the riot grrrl movement of the ’90s to Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, Sophie Gilbert’s “Girl on Girl” dives into female representation across media, politics and entertainment. Drawing on decades of cultural analysis, Gilbert examines how pop culture consistently hypersexualizes and objectifies women, fostering a pervasive culture of misogyny that has turned women against each other. Even to readers not fond of nonfiction, “Girl on Girl” is likely to resonate with anyone even slightly interested in pop culture, with examinations of phenomena ranging from Lena Dunham to “The Real Housewives.”
— Amelia Knust, Music Editor
“Where There Was Fire” by John Manuel Arias
On a snowy day in December, John Manuel Arias’ “Where There Was Fire” transported me back home to Costa Rica. His lyrical debut novel follows Teresa Cepeda Valverde and her family over 27 years, after a lethal fire at a nearby banana plantation burns through the life she once knew. Teresa is haunted by the memories of her husband and mother, who died the night of the fire. Her surviving daughter, Lyra, is desperate to understand what happened on that tragic night. Arias’ prose is full of lush imagery, from Puntarenas’ shimmering beaches to the golden accents of Cartago. “Where There Was Fire” reminded me of my country’s beauty and its many ghosts, as banana companies like Chiquita and Dole continue their oppressive reign over the region with no repercussions for the lives they uproot.
— Chantal Mann, Performing Arts Editor
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
Although we are still in the midst of winter, Liz Moore’s “The God of the Woods” took me back to the nostalgic summers of my youth spent at summer camp. Jumping between the 1950s and ’70s, Moore’s novel unfolds with the mysterious vanishing of a young girl, Barbara Van Laar, from her Adirondack summer camp. Not just any camper, Barbara is the daughter of the family who owns the summer camp and this isn’t the first time that a Van Laar has disappeared. 14 years ago Babara’s older brother, Bear, went missing on the same campgrounds. Moore had me flying through her book as she split each chapter of her drama between the perspectives of counselors, parents, investigators and campers. While no point of view is left untouched, Moore still manages to conceal the truth of the mysterious disappearances until the very end.
— Siobhán Minerva, Editor-at-Large
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