The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Release Date: May 07, 2019
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults
The Bride Test is the much anticipated follow-up to Hoang’s debut novel The Kiss Quotient. The Bride Test features Khai Diep, a 26-year-old living with autism, and Esme Tran, the woman his mother has selected from Vietnam to be his future wife. As Khai struggles to understand his emotions and Esme battles her insecurities, the pair embark on a journey of companionship. What makes this novel unique is that Hoang, the author, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2016, and Hoang’s father also has autism. Additionally, the character Esme was inspired by Hoang’s mother who immigrated to the United States. Hoang’s writing reflects those experiences, and she creates characters that are realistic and believable. She delves into sensory processing issues, as well as the stigma associated with being an immigrant. The result is an affectionate romance novel that will leave readers wanting more. Find it in the catalog.
If you’ve ever considered adopting a plant based diet, this book is for you. Simmons takes readers on a journey that begins with his personal introduction to a vegan lifestyle and travels chapter by chapter through the reasons why others should consider this lifestyle as well. He appeals to all fronts by exploring the health benefits of veganism, the environmental impact, animal suffering, and the subconscious, emotional impacts of veganism. And, he does all of this with a very direct, no nonsense approach. He does not sugar coat the truth out of fear of upsetting the reader. This is particularly true in the section about animal abuse that contains graphic descriptions of the conditions inside concentrated animal feeding operations (also known as factory farms) and rendering plants. Although difficult to read at times, the graphic descriptions serve as a catalyst for action and force the reader to at least acknowledge, if not fully accept, the truth about where their meat comes from.
The cover of this book caught my eye, so I decided to give it a try. And, I was pleasantly surprised. It is memoir that is interwoven with lessons learned from the animals in the author’s life. The author, Sy Montgomery, has been an animal lover since early childhood, and she developed deep connections with the animals that crossed her path. A writer by trade, Montgomery has traveled the world to conduct research for her writing. Thus, the animals she encounters range from family dogs and backyard hens to emus and octopuses.
True-Blue Cowboy by Sara Richardson
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
This is a nonfiction book written and illustrated by a mother-daughter duo. Bateman has the sudden realization that her mother, writer Suzy Hopkins, will not live forever. Unable to imagine life without her mother’s guiding voice, Bateman asks her mother to write step-by-step instructions to follow in the event of her mom’s death. Hopkins agrees, and the end result is an illustrated, day-by-day instruction manual on navigating life’s up and downs, including everything from making new holiday traditions to making the decision to have children. Despite the solemn topic, Hopkins maintains a lighthearted tone and sprinkles her writing with bits of humor and recipes, including fajitas, chocolate brownies, chili, chicken and dumplings, and curry to cure your heartbreak.