In George Orwell’s 1984, society is constantly being manipulated by the government, to the extent that people can’t even have a conversation full of individual thought. Individuals are forced to hide their true intentions behind a facade containing praise for the totalitarian-style government. In fact, the manipulation present in the dystopian world prevents individuals from creating bonds.
There aren’t many books that change my perspective on the world, but after reading The Handmaid's Tale I’m surprised to add one to the list. However, reader discretion is advised as there are some topics that are hard to process. Formerly known as the U.S.A., the new country of Gilead is going through a civil war, forcing many women into a Red Center to provide safety and promote reproduction.
The Elite is an engaging novel that has so many plot twists! This book is about America, a seventeen year old lady competing for Prince Maxon’s hand. She is part of the Elite (the last ten girls left in the competition) but she doesn’t know if she really wants Maxon after the royal family mistreats her friend and turns away her ideas. After all, she could always turn away from Maxon and marry her first love, Aspen. My favorite part of this book was Maxon’s character development.
Summary: We Are Not Free by Traci Chee is a historical fiction novel set during World War II that follows the lives of fourteen Japanese American teenagers living in San Francisco. As they are forcibly relocated to internment camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group grapples with loss, injustice, and the impact of discrimination on their friendships and identities.
Christian Harper is a cold, calculated CEO with questionable morals and no tolerance for romance. Except a peculiar fascination with the new tenant in his apartment complex, Stella Alonso. Sweet, caring and introverted Stella is waiting for her perfect love story but right now she neither has the time nor energy to have a relationship. Christian strikes up a deal with Stella to be her fake boyfriend and the two start a fake relationship to grow Stella’s online influencer status. But the two can't deny their chemistry and fake dating turns to not so fake.
Wyn and Harriet, the perfect couple much deserving of some time together after being long distance for so long, have the opportunity to spend a week at a beautiful Maine cottage as their friends get married. There's just one problem: they broke up months ago, and their friends don't know. In order to keep the cottage as a "happy place" for just one more week, they decide to fake being together rather than ruin the group's time together.
Summary: Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a dystopian science fiction novel set on Mars in a hierarchical society divided by colors, each representing a different caste. The story follows Darrow, a young "Red" miner who discovers that his people have been subjugated by the ruling "Gold" class. After a personal tragedy, he undergoes surgery and training to infiltrate the Golds and bring about a revolution from within.
Andy Weir’s novel Artemis follows Jasmine Bashara, A girl who lives in the city of Artemis on the Moon. Her only goal in life is to get rich and when she gets an opportunity to achieve this goal, she can't say no. She has to engineer the perfect plan to pull off this huge score. As a lover of science and a well written story, this was a pleasure to read. Weir is a great writer that makes you feel like you are right in the story with the character.
Our story begins with an embarrassing incident involving a roof, a tree, a fallen ladder, a cat, and two sworn enemies (the gentlemen and earldom heir George Rokesby and his neighbor, the tomboyish Billie Bridgerton). This unfortunate incident leads to a sprained ankle on Billie’s part, and a new connection and banter where there was little before. Slowly but surely, the two get closer and closer - but with a missing brother, a spy mission, and vengeful games of croquet added to the mix, it’s unclear if they will ever be able to actually admit their feelings for each other.
Anne Wynter is not who she seems - but that does nothing to deter Daniel Smythe-Smith, enchanted by her beauty, charm, and wit. However, Anne is but a simple governess and socially unfit for Daniel, an earl. But as the demons in their past come back to haunt them, they find themselves increasingly drawn together despite the taboo.
