RaveBookreporter... a remarkable story filled with lyrical prose and breathtaking humanity ... Abulhawa beautifully creates spaces for her characters to experience love, whether through family, friendship or marriage in what feels like a loveless world at times ... As Nahr’s story unfolds, readers get to see every side of her multi-dimensional character; she is smart, funny, caring and unrelenting in her fight against a loveless world. Abulhawa marks an exceptional tone of voice through Nahr that will have every reader rooting for her and other girls just like her.
K-Ming Chang
RaveBookreporter... [Chang] creates her subversive and vivid voice with skilled poetic prose and fabulist framework ... a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age story. From one generation to the next, Chang masterfully illustrates a cycle of abuse. The weight of each family member’s choices and the pain that accompanies them are present on each character as they struggle to navigate their own paths. The novel blends mythology with queer love and the immigrant experience with stunning prose. Her writing is surprising and assertive, flowing seamlessly on the page.
Samuel Park
Rave20SomethingReads\"Park delivers an honest and intricate story in the frame of a dynamic mother-daughter relationship. The bond between Mara and Ana is evident in every chapter. It is this sacred bond that creates such inner conflict for Mara and makes it difficult for her to forgive many of the choices Ana made. While the storyline jumps from past to future, Park vividly sets the scene in each location, seamlessly bringing the reader along Mara’s journey ... a brilliantly entwined work of art that illustrates the bonds that hold us together, proving there is nothing more pure than the love of a caregiver.\
Judy Blundell
Rave20SomethingReadsI was expecting The High Season to be a light summer read perfect for the beach. I definitely did not expect to feel the urge to pick up an ax and chop down a tree as Ruthie does in her blind rage ... Blundell packs this book with twists and turns, leaving you guessing how her characters will piece their lives back together. She delicately details intricate plot lines that weave together the stories of several characters through their pasts, presents and futures. Blundell’s writing feels effortless as her story becomes more complex with each summer day. The High Season more than just the perfect beach read --- it is a must-read.
Sloane Crosley
Rave20SomethingReads\"Crosley continues to deliver indelible tales filled with undeniable wit and uncanny wisdom ... From walking down a New York City street to climbing an active volcano in Ecuador, Crosley’s inclusive style brings the reader along with her on the mostly unplanned adventures of her life. She derives thought-provoking prose and social commentary from each essay while never failing to provide her signature charm and insight. She effortlessly manages to balance both the poignant and the funny, and consistently delivers one-liners that will make you laugh out loud and think critically long after reading.\
