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Shady Baby

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Shady Baby by Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Shady Baby always keeps it real! Shady Baby loves fashion, fun and a good side-eye. Shady Baby also loves to stand up for what is right. After a morning of being fancy and fabulous morning, Shady Baby heads to the park to play with her friends. When one of her friends isn’t playing nicely with others, Shady Baby steps in to save the day! This book is based on Gabrielle Union’s & Dwyane Wade’s daughter Kaavia and her fun, but sassy ways. This book is a great way to teach children about getting along together and making sure they do the right thing. This was a fun, quick read with a lot of great illustrations! Be sure to check it out today!

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Blackout

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Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

*Sighs* New York City in the summer. The birds are chirping, music is playing, kids running around and all is well in the world, then a blackout happens. “Blackout” is a book that proves the city of New York is smaller than we think. Each character in the series of short stories within the book interconnect throughout and it exudes the story of young Black teens in love. I saw this book last year in an article and was SO excited about its release. It gives the book world something it desperately needs – Black teens in love and living life. The inclusiveness of the characters is something that makes this book a great read. All six authors are powerhouses and I hope to see more collaborative stories from them in the future.

Find Blackout in the catalog.

The Housewives: The Real Story behind the Real Housewives

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The Housewives: The Real Story behind the Real Housewives by Brian Moylan
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

It is time to admit my biggest guilty pleasure: reality television. This book is narrated by the author and involves a deep dive into the world of The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. I listened to this audiobook and as Brian, the author, chats about the history of The Real Housewives, it is just like having coffee with a friend the day after watching an episode. Although Bravo wouldn’t allow the author a lot of access to the housewives, Moylan did a great job giving readers and listeners the behind-the-scenes scoop on our favorite housewives moments. The book had a great mix of everything, the history of the show, who really pays for those housewives’ trips, and even an inside look at Moylan’s vacation with one of the housewives. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves reality shows and wants to get a small glimpse of the inside of the Bravo phenomenon.

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Malibu Rising

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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

It’s official: I am obsessed with Taylor Jenkins Reid and her writing. This book is about the Rivas family and their life in lavish Malibu. As most families, the Rivas have a few dysfunctions and each individual character has a secret of their own. Nina, the oldest is currently on a journey to find herself. She never wanted to be the center of attention but in order to provide for her family, she is thrown into a life of fame that brings people into her life that she’s not sure are there for her, or for something else. The book tells a story of what happens on the night of the infamous Nina Rivas end of summer bash. The twists and turns of this book, and the secrets that these characters hold will have you wanting to know more and more about this family.

I am a big fan of audiobooks and the narrator was able to bring this story to life. I cannot wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid gives us next.

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Good Girl, Bad Blood

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Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

The sequel to “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” begins with Pip, our main character from the first book and the beginning of her podcast that has gone viral. Pip has insisted that her detective and investigating days are behind her due to all of the chaos and hurt she caused in the first novel. That is until her friend begs for her help. Connors brother Jamie Reynolds has disappeared and the police are not making it a priority to try to find him. And so the investigation begins! Pip takes her investigation digitally and encourages her listeners to help find Jamie.

I am loving this series so far! Listening to it on audiobook captivated me and left me wanting more of the story. The new-age media tie-in of podcasting was awesome and I felt that it made the story more relatable. There is a third and final book set to be released in September 2021 and I cannot wait!

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Concrete Rose

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Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

Angie Thomas has taken up back to Garden Heights in Concrete Rose. Concrete Rose is the prequel to The Hate U Give in where we follow the life and growth of Maverick Carter. Maverick is a 17-year-old who is determined to take care of his family while his dad in prison. The only way Maverick thinks he can do this though is by dealing drugs. Maverick’s world turns upside when he discovers that he has a son – Seven. This book will entertain you and keep your attention. It also strongly highlights the struggles that young Black men face. They are constantly being judged as soft by their peers if not showing aggression or anger as a response. It’s difficult for Maverick to overcome his struggles and make the right decisions when the expectations of failure are so high. I listened to this book on audio and the narrator, Dion Graham does a great job with making you feel like he is having a conversation with you, versus only reading a book.

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