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Hendrix explores trust, perception as reality, and paralysis and inaction in the face of danger. Race is an issue here; a heroic black character is reduced to begging white employers to help focus police

offered complex motivations, clashes between idealism and realism, editorialization about class and race

She teaches the children evacuated from London, children society has rejected because of race, impairment The language and pacing is lovely, the World War II settings are exquisitely laid out, and the dialogue are drawn to this time period thinking it was a war of absolute good versus absolute evil—qualities rarely

or more strenuous work; manage the implications of a backlash against artificial enhancements; and face at work here, as well as clashes between idealism and realism and editorialization about class and race

natural landscapes to striking wartime images, from bustling city scenes to quiet moments bridging race Geographic photographer and a professional "mountain athlete" (skier and climber) who has been on The North Face

I do like a thoughtful memoir if I can get it, and in A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir, Colin Jost offers Jost begins A Very Punchable Face with a story that is really his mother's (to be fair, it's gripping

intimate details about each other's families, pasts, traditions, fears, failures, and dreams--while racing touchstones: academic achievement and competition; cultivating and appreciating meaningful friendships; facing

The misogyny and contempt of her peers means she faces a lack of respect and resources at every turn. Amanda makes a special connection with a mountain family on her route that's facing tough times despite distance from those they've left behind, forge bonds with each other, and reflect on their lives while racing Samantha Harvey's astronaut-focused novel Orbital  traces a single day in the lives of six astronauts

And my heart raced while I read to find out if this fraught situation would blow up in fantastic form

Some Light Fiction Favorites At the start of the pandemic, I was particularly drawn to lighter fiction because the chances felt slim that things could go seriously or painfully, irrevocably awry for the characters. These are some of my light fiction favorites, and they're also perfect for summer reading. Real, weighty issues are raised within the pages of the books on this list: characters cope with abuse or alcohol abuse; they struggle to feel self-respect, a healthy body image, or to establish a true and real sense of self; and they find themselves capable of demonstrating strength in difficult circumstances. All of these issues are explored within what feels like a safe space--amid swirling attraction, burgeoning romance, self-discovery, some temporary heartbreak, and, typically, a satisfying ending. I love this balance. I'm due to create another Greedy Reading List of my more recently read light fiction favorites, but meanwhile, you can find other Bossy light fiction reviews here. I'm solidly in love with Christina Lauren's and Emily Henry's books, and I haven't yet read everything by the other authors listed here. What other lighter fiction authors or stories do you love? 01 Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein Nineteen-year-old Avery Abrams was set to be the next big gymnastics Olympic champion. She had the training, the talent, and the drive. But during the Olympic Trials, she sustained a career-ending injury. For the next few years she dabbled in college, she partied, she drifted, she dated a professional football player, but she didn't find peace and wasn't able to truly come to terms with her new reality. When she hits a version of rock bottom and moves home, Avery's former teammate and crush Ryan (who did become an Olympic champion) talks her into helping him coach Hallie, a young phenom at the gym where Avery spent much of her youth. With lots of gymnastics details that made the setting come to life, Head Over Heels was the engrossing, light fiction book I needed. Orenstein didn't hit any false notes for me and kept me satisfyingly wrapped up in the elite gymnastics world of the story. For my full review, see Head Over Heels. 02 Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis Sometimes in order to delve into a lighter fiction book I find that I have to suspend my disbelief about human behavior. But letting go of expectations about realistic cause and effect in order to buy into a romantic setup (see my review of What You Wish For) is far more difficult for me than suspending my disbelief in order to buy into outlandish or supernatural aspects of a romantic but otherwise truly oddball book (see my review of My Lady Jane). The premise of Dear Emmie Blue made me wonder if the story would feel too far-fetched. But Lia Louis's Dear Emmie Blue characters are appealingly faulted, sometimes selfish and foolish. Unlikely bonds are forged and reforged. There's a love triangle that I adored. For my full review, please see Dear Emmie Blue. This book was also mentioned in the Greedy Reading List Three Wackily Different Books I'm Reading Now. Lia Louis is also the author of Eight Perfect Hours and The Key to My Heart. 03 Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center This book hit the spot for me. Katherine Center's Cassie is a tough-as-nails firefighter who has closed herself off emotionally to protect herself. Her life is orderly and regimented and under control. So clearly everything is about to be upended so that Cassie will be forced to alter her plans and careful schedule and figure out how to come through it all. Although I saw some of the big plot events coming in Things You Save in a Fire, Center makes the journey so enjoyable that I just didn't care. This novel is satisfying escapism, but it's not silly or outlandish. Things You Save in a Fire is a quick read that addresses serious matters—betrayal, loyalty, duty, trust, and love, with a little sleuthing and romance to round out things. I thought it was great. For my full review of this book, please see Things You Save in a Fire. 04 Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating totally fits the bill for light-fiction escapism--in this case, with lots of sexy talk and sexy scenes and sexy thoughts and sex. Hazel is a strong personality, and I found myself bristling at her questioning whether she's too much sometimes. Yet the authors clearly care deeply about their characters, the characters care deeply about each other, and I cared that they cared. All of this makes for a heartwarming read in which everyone is trying to love and live and be happy. You can see a satisfying version of happily ever after coming, but I didn't predict the circumstances. For my full review of this book, please see Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. Click here for my reviews of Lauren's The Unhoneymooners, In a Holidaze, Love and Other Words, The Soulmate Equation (a favorite), and Autoboyography (another favorite and a young adult LGBTQ+ gem). 05 Beach Read by Emily Henry Is it fair for a person (me) with particular requirements for light fiction (ideally: not too outlandish of a hook and premise, characters who follow somewhat logical steps in their lives, inner voices that feel real, human connections that warm my heart, and a little romantic something-something) to continue reading light fiction while constantly kind of expecting disappointment? Yes. Yes, it is. Because I suspected that Emily Henry's Beach Read might be a major gem on my light fiction-escapism-pandemic-era reading list and a book that might bring me fully into the bosom of this genre. And fortunately, I was correct. The initial scene-setting didn't feel as authentic to me as the rest of the book. But after that, Beach Read met all of my criteria above and more; it's sweet and funny, it's about writing and books, there are wonderfully faulted love-crossed main protagonists with a shared history, and they share a sexy-playful-obsession that might lead to heartbreak or might lead to love. For my full review of this book, see Beach Read. And click here for my review of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation. Stay tuned for my upcoming review of her newest, Book Lovers. 06 One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London In Kate Stayman-London's One to Watch, Bea Schumacher is a popular plus-size fashion blogger who has Instagram fame, wonderful friends--and an unhealthy obsession with a male friend who's attached to someone else. After she drunk-blogs scathing comments about the unrealistic body images of the stars of Main Squeeze (a reality TV show in which a single woman dates strangers hand-picked by the producers and aims to marry one of them), Bea is surprised when a show producer reaches out to her with an unexpected question: Would Bea consider starring in a season of Main Squeeze? Bea finds the proposal laughable, then considers what it might mean for her career, for promoting body positivity, and maybe even for her lackluster romantic life. She decides that she's in--for a fantastic wardrobe, incredibly awkward moments, scripted romance, and a beautiful Malibu backdrop. What could go wrong? I was especially intrigued by how Bea navigated multiple suitors (Bachelorette-style) and by her attempts to give each his due while simultaneously dating and honestly considering the others. She didn't lose sight of embracing each new experience while reflecting on what she wanted her future to look like after the show, above and beyond what others attempted to script or suggest. For my full review of this book, please see One to Watch.

, with a fun Parent Trap-style backdrop--and weighty issues like depression that are addressed with grace In an excellent example of how authors of light fiction can take on weighty issues with grace and care

But when she awakens the next morning bracing to face the living nightmare her family has begun living And Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome, cannot communicate to tell her what of Romantic Comedy. 12 Maame by Jessica George Jessica George's debut Maame takes on big issues of race Jessica George offers a wonderful story with messy moments of love, some humor, big issues of race, loss

out Being Henry. 03 You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Poet Maggie Smith's memoir traces optimistic methods of coping, reminding herself of what's what, and ways in which she carries on in the face A Fever in the Heartland traces the horrifying and powerful growth of hate, buoyed by greed and intolerance You can click here to find other books I've read and reviewed that explore issues of race and politics

So she spent two years interviewing young men ages sixteen to twenty-two of different races, straight pleasure, consent, asserting limits, hearing others' wants, trust, safety, care, coercion, harassment, and rape

joined in progress--are mothers, daughters, friends, and lovers concerned with sexuality, autonomy, race I loved it and rated the collection five stars. in again to the complicated, tragic reunion of former college roommates; from a mourning elderly man faced

Kristin Hannah's very popular book set during World War II about a family stretched to its limits in the face Her goal: to win a ruthless, exclusive annual motorbike race through Axis-controlled lands. Buckle up for this one--it's unusual and fast-paced.

during the first year I started the Bossy Bookworm blog, and I gave five of these books four stars and rated I’m dying to know how closely Anita Abriel’s book traces the inspiring events from her mother’s incredible Adler Swims Forever. 05 Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera Although the three interconnected women faced But the details of cooking, strong women's determination to survive, race relations, and life in 1924

deadly deep-space robots, showcases the power of music, and illustrates how love can persist even in the face The robots and the imminent demise of the human race that the robots seem perched to enact serve as a Ryland Grace wakes up as the sole survivor of a last-chance effort to save Earth and its inhabitants.

I sometimes confused the various British men attempting to serve as puppet masters, but I raced to the

distance from those they've left behind, forge bonds with each other, and reflect on their lives while racing Samantha Harvey's astronaut-focused novel Orbital  traces a single day in the lives of six astronauts

during the Spanish Inquisition; an adventure-fantasy inspired by a Chinese legend; literary fiction tracing His social position is fragile because of his mixed race and his modest background. The group faces real challenges, and some characters don't make it through the battles and sometimes-messy For my full review--and for a link to my rave Bossy review of Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love -

The Ex Talk is a fast read with lots of sexual tension along with some racy-steamy romantic interludes If you like romantic, sometimes racy light fiction that offers character backstory, witty banter, and

in Marske's series is an irresistible queer magical mystery thriller with Edwardian England details, racy

book, see Apeirogon. 02 The Light After the War ​ I’m dying to know how closely Anita Abriel’s book traces And although the three interconnected female characters faced sometimes staggeringly tragic challenges But the details of cooking, strong women's determination to survive, race relations, and life in 1924

Notice is A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice, and in it, Browder traces

dictated the fates of those in our country more powerfully than traditionally considered factors such as race in again to the complicated, tragic reunion of former college roommates; from a mourning elderly man faced

of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe's exhaustive, revolting, fascinating history of the Sackler family as traced highlights tragic, uncomfortable aspects of our nation's history in an important work of nonfiction about race The title comes from Green's podcast of the same name, in which he rated "facets of the human condition wintry mix, and teddy bears) to his sometimes absurd, occasionally unfavorable, often effusive star rating Gwynne traces the evolution of the Comanches--including their captivatingly described, unprecedented

imminent, eighty trained elite young people venture into space, where they hope to preserve the human race

I rated each of these books four Bossy stars or more. couldn't be higher for Crouch's protagonists--pending global destruction and the elimination of the human race Ryland Grace wakes up as the sole survivor of a last-chance effort to save Earth and its inhabitants.

Six Favorite Fantasy Reads I love spending Fridays raving about books I've loved! offered complex motivations, clashes between idealism and realism, editorialization about class and race

Kristin Hannah's very popular book set during World War II about a family stretched to its limits in the face Her goal: to win a ruthless, exclusive annual motorbike race through Axis-controlled lands. Buckle up for this one--it's unusual and fast-paced.

The Books I'm Reading Now I'm reading a romantic book about aspiring musicians with intertwined pasts; the rich fictional history of an esteemed figure in early twentieth century New York and his mysterious death; and a science fiction-slanted story about young women shaped by their unusual creation stories who seek to form their own futures. Which books are you reading and enjoying these days, bookworms? 01 Moonlight Drive by A.R. Hadley The title of this book (which is explained as coming from a Doors song) evokes romantic ideas, and so far the story reads to me like a soap opera-esque romance. Moonlight Drive relies upon a seemingly implausible premise--one in which a famous singer doesn’t recognize the person who provided the pivotal years-long emotional connection in their early teens. The “groupie” (really the childhood friend) lives on the bus, is invited to share rooms with the band, and tantalizes the star--all without being recognized by the soulmate of her youth. Currently there are many instances of interrupted speech--so much so that sometimes I wasn’t sure what the characters were getting at--and frequent instances of what feels like unrealistically intuitive mind-reading. I received a prepublication digital edition of this book through NetGalley and Chameleon Media Productions. If you like stories about music, you might like the books on the Greedy Reading List Six Rockin' Stories about Bands and Music or the books A Song for the Road or The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. 02 The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee Andrew Green has been shot dead in front of his stately New York City home at the age of 83. He was an elderly man, but still a spitfire who wasn't finished making incredibly significant contributions to society. The real-life, forgotten figure of Green was involved in a gloriously absurd array of real-life, essential projects—the creation of Central Park, the founding of the Met Museum and the Natural History Museum, putting Boss Tweed behind bars, securing a more equitable New York public school system, establishing the New York Public Library, and combining Manhattan with Brooklyn and Queens into a greater New York. Inspectors take into custody the man who shot Green; they work to understand the shooter's odd story and to retrace Green's last steps in hopes of understanding the reason for his death. So far this is a love letter to turn-of-the-century New York and a captivating story that reminds me somewhat of Amor Towles's A Gentleman in Moscow. I received a prepublication digital edition of this book courtesy of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley. 03 Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy Young adult Josie is Girl One, the first of nine baby girls who were famously conceived without male sperm years ago on the now-dismantled commune The Homestead. She's spent her life plagued by criticism, misogyny, obsessed fans, and the weight of the circumstances of her birth. Yet she embraces her past and aims to further the scientific work of her father figure, Dr. Joseph Bellanger, who tragically died in a fire on the commune years earlier. Josie's studies and desire to learn more about her "virgin birth" drive a wedge between Josie and her mother, and Josie isn't sure exactly why. Her mother's disappearance leads Josie to track down the other Girls, and together they discover strange, unique powers as they rely on each other and attempt to unravel their shared history. They're learning to trust that the circumstances of their creation do not determine their identities or what they're capable of. I'm taken with this story so far. I received a prepublication digital edition of this book through Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley.

or more strenuous work; manage the implications of a backlash against artificial enhancements; and face motivation here, as well as clashes between idealism and realism and editorialization about class and race

, disturbing, strange exploration of a post-plague world, coping with death, and how to live in the face on real-life double agents in the Cambridge Spy Ring--is vividly set in Europe and Russia and was a rare writers; and digs in to try to be one of what he hopes will be an ever-increasing number of diverse faces fictional account of an interracial music duo's rise to success (and their famous split), a story in which race Sunny Shelton shapes an oral history of two music idols, tracing their family lives, youthful experiences

But when a wildfire rages near where they're canoeing the Maskwa River in northern Canada, everything And although the three interconnected women faced sometimes staggeringly tragic challenges, Spera injects But the details of cooking, surviving, race relations, and life in 1924 South Carolina were wonderful

highlights tragic, uncomfortable aspects of our nation's history in an important work of nonfiction about race

She teaches the children evacuated from London, children society has rejected because of race, impairment The language and pacing is so lovely, the World War II settings so exquisitely laid out, and the dialogue are drawn to this time period thinking it was a war of absolute good versus absolute evil—qualities rarely

distance from those they've left behind, forge bonds with each other, and reflect on their lives while racing Samantha Harvey's astronaut-focused novel Orbital  traces a single day in the lives of six astronauts mortality like I am, you might like the books on my Greedy Reading Lists Six Powerful Memoirs about Facing Mortality  and Six More Powerful Books about Facing Mortality . And the carefree vacations of the past feel light years away, because Rocky's menopausal rage threatens

In The Office of Historical Corrections, Evans offers short stories centering around themes of race, She beautifully and powerfully illustrates essential, deep truths by tracing moments in her characters

Sheriff Brody Dern must face his own postwar demons when he confronts Noah Bluestone, a Native American Yet the tone of the book is not one of intrigue and suspense; this is a patiently paced story of a time William Kent Krueger is also the author of The Levee, Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land.

Collapse provides more of SecUnit's emotional coping with PTSD than action, and I missed the faster pacing catch up with the delightfully grumpy Murderbot (SecUnit), who in this seventh book in the series is faced trying to come to terms with its near-death experience, yet the page time spent on insecurity, fear, and facing past trauma is one reason the pacing of System Collapse felt quite slow to me until the final sections The end section of the story involves fast-paced reactions and conflicts, with SecUnit doing its thing

240 pages) fantasy novel Nocturne, set in the Little Italy of 1930s Chicago, promising young dancer Grace As the Depression rages, orphaned Italian immigrant Grace rises through the ranks of the Near North Ballet Grace is faced with compromises and tradeoffs, and she must decide where her own loyalties lie and determine I felt connected to Wees's story through Grace's early struggles, her sole real connection, to friend Grace's benefactor, who barely speaks, seeks to control her, and has professed his romantic interest

But I was distracted by what felt like uneven pacing, multiple willfully delayed resolutions, and slapstick-seeming She uses the sharing of space facts to deflect from emotions, uncomfortable situations, and facing the facts Enid spouted off at times, but in general, the story's tone frequently felt oddly zany, and the pacing

Schwab returns to the world of the four Londons in the first of a wonderfully paced new series featuring In Red London, Kell's brother king Rhy Maresh is facing spreading resistance and assassination attempts I loved returning to the wonderful Schwab pacing and banter and delving into the love stories already

She faces unknown dangers and heartbreaking betrayal in this fast-paced novel. Ava Glass's Alias Emma was a fast-paced cat-and-mouse chase across London and through an underground

Patrick Bringley, a former New Yorker  staffer, after facing the tragic death of his beloved brother, The slow pace and straightforward duties of the job suited Bringley, who, along with his fellow guards Illuminating Memoirs to Lose Yourself In Six Foodie Memoirs to Whet Your Appetite Six Powerful Memoirs about Facing

But I've been frustrated while reading some other Hannah stories by what feels like odd pacing, soap-opera She faces repeated horrors of war, must find her own inner fortitude, and forges eternal loyalty and When she returns home, she faces anti-war sentiments, the shock of returning to her pre-war life, and

She contrasts this with her father's presentation to the world of his generosity, wisdom, and graceful messy, imperfect, and wonderfully independent as she wishes it to be--back into her own hands, while facing Illuminating Memoirs to Lose Yourself In Six Foodie Memoirs to Whet Your Appetite Six Powerful Memoirs about Facing

It wasn't one great tragedy, but ten million tiny ones, and everyone faced theirs alone. vivid historical setting and magical elements in Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy (see links to my rave The story's pacing felt quite slow and the tone extremely dark and hushed for the majority of the book

Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley Patrick Bringley, a former New Yorker staffer, after facing The slow pace and straightforward duties of the job suited Bringley, who, along with his fellow guards