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Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
What happens: A man awakens from a coma with amnesia and makes two discoveries: 1.) he is aboard a spaceship and 2.) he is the sole survivor of a last-ditch mission to save humanity.
Is it for you? Closer in feel to The Martian than Artemis, Andy Weir's optimistic new novel offers accessible hard science and an everyman protagonist with a talent for creative problem-solving.
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People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
What it's about: Two years after the vacation that ended their friendship, former besties Poppy and Alex agree to one more summer trip, which may (finally) force them to confront their true feelings for each other.
Why you might like it: Told partly in flashbacks, this opposites attract, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy should please fans of When Harry Met Sally and Love Rosie.
About the author: Emily Henry is the author of the bestselling Beach Read.
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Velvet Was the Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Starring: Maite, a lonely, romance-reading 30-year-old secretary; and Elvis, a 21-year-old member of a government-sanctioned paramilitary group who's getting tired of violence.
Mexico City, 1971: Against the backdrop of Mexico's Dirty War, Maite asks around about Leonora, her beautiful art student neighbor who has mysteriously disappeared. This leads to an encounter with Elvis, who's intrigued by Maite even as he looks for Leonora at the behest of his powerful bosses.
Reviewers say: "A noir masterpiece" (Kirkus Reviews).
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The Push
by Ashley Audrain
The setup: Contentedly child-free Blythe fell hard for Fox Connor, whose desire to be a dad convinced her to put her qualms aside.
Problem child? Although Blythe has a healthy bond with their newborn son Sam, she has never understood or felt close to their seven-year-old daughter Violet. Violet behaves sweetly when Fox is around but turns on Blythe when they are alone, and things only seem to be getting worse since Sam's arrival.
For fans of: Unreliable narrators, creepy kids, and very dysfunctional family dynamics.
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While Justice Sleeps
by Stacey Abrams
The situation: Law clerk Avery Keene has just been appointed the legal guardian of Supreme Court justice Howard Wynn, who has fallen into a coma.
What's at stake: Justice Wynn was the swing vote for a major upcoming case, and it's not long before Avery learns how far some people will go to ensure the court rules in their favor.
About the author: Politician Stacey Abrams has previously published the non-fiction works Our Time Is Now and Lead from the Outside.
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L.A. Weather
by María Amparo Escandón
What happens: Amidst the burning heat of a drought, the Alvarado family is drawn together under one roof. Close quarters soon reveal layers of betrayal and deception that bring their relationships to a boil.
Read it for: Telenovela-levels of high drama, a strong sense of place, and a surprisingly heartwarming tone overall.
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Going There
by Katie Couric
What it's about: Former Today co-host and CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric's 40-year journalism career.
Read it for: A vivid and fast-paced behind-the-scenes account of Couric's personal and professional lives, full of candid insights on the challenges she's faced.
Topics include: Navigating sexism in the media industry; losing her first husband to colon cancer; battling bulimia; adjusting to fame.
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The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family
by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
What it is: A nostalgic and banter-filled coming-of-age memoir by brothers and Hollywood luminaries Ron and Clint Howard, both of whom got their start as child actors in the 1960s.
Who it's for: Fans of the pair will enjoy this charming look back at their storied careers, featuring anecdotes about their work on The Andy Griffith Show, Gentle Ben, Happy Days, and more.
Try this next: For another engaging showbiz memoir by an iconic 1960s child star, read Hayley Mills' Forever Young.
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Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
by Patrick Radden Keefe
What it is: A compelling three-generation family history of the Sacklers, the Purdue Pharma owners who have made billions marketing and selling OxyContin.
Read it for: A sobering account of the role the Sackler family played in spurring America's opioid crisis.
Did you know? Award-winning author Patrick Radden Keefe (Say Nothing) wrote a New Yorker exposé on the Sacklers in 2017.
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