Birnam Wood is a novel written by Josiah Bancroft. The story unfolds in a world where nature is reasserting itself with dangerous consequences for humanity. The protagonist, Elston, embarks on a journey to find his wife in a world transformed by the regrowth of the forests, encountering numerous perils and challenges along the way.
Beloved is a novel by Toni Morrison, which tells the story of Sethe, a former slave. Sethe is haunted by the ghost of her daughter, whom she killed to save from the brutalities of slavery. The novel explores the themes of motherhood, freedom, and the psychological impacts of slavery.
Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical novel by Ayn Rand. The story unfolds in the United States, where successful industrialists begin to disappear mysteriously. The dystopian society spurs the protagonist, Dagny Taggart, to embark on a search for the people behind the disappearances. She discovers a place where the industrialists have gathered to live by their own rules. The novel explores themes of reason, individualism, and capitalism.
Astor, written by Alina Adams, is a historical fiction novel set in 19th-century New York. It revolves around the life of John Jacob Astor, a German immigrant who became America’s first multi-millionaire. The book meticulously details Astor’s journey from rags to riches, his innovations in the American fur trade, and his impactful real estate investments.
American Psycho is a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, published in 1991. The story is told in the first person by Patrick Bateman, a 26-year-old investment banker from Manhattan. Bateman’s life revolves around dining at trendy restaurants while keeping up appearances for his fiancée and circle of wealthy friends. Unbeknownst to them, Bateman is also a serial killer who preys on the marginalized and the homeless.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is a profound character study of four college friends living in New York City. The story primarily centers around Jude St. Francis, who endured unspeakable traumas in his past. The narrative explores complex themes of friendship, trauma, love, and the human capacity for endurance.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a high fantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas. The story follows Feyre, a young woman whose life changes dramatically after she kills a wolf in the forest. After she is taken to a magical land for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is not an animal, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As Feyre dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae.
Verity is a romantic thriller novel written by best-selling author, Colleen Hoover. The story revolves around struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh who is approached by the husband of the famous writer, Verity Crawford, to finish Verity’s series due to her disability. Lowen’s discovery of Verity’s hidden autobiography changes everything, leading her into a dark world of secrets and lies, in a suspenseful journey of love, betrayal, and revelation.
We Were Liars is a contemporary, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. It tells the story of a privileged family spending the summer on their private island, and the secrets, love, and lies that bind them together. A terrible accident and resulting amnesia add to the intrigue, leading to a shocking twist at the end.