Book Recommendations

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has been trending since its release back in 2019 and with good reason. This New York Times Bestseller follows the story of 17-year-old Pip Fitz-Amobi, who chooses to re-investigate a closed murder investigation in her hometown, Fairview. 

5 years ago, Sal Singh was accused of murdering his then-girlfriend Andie Bell, and then taking his own life. Now, Pip, a high school senior must complete a culminating project and has chosen Andie’s case to research upon. While her original goal was to raise questions about minor details in the case, Pip soon finds herself playing detective as she re-investigates the events that took place all those years ago. It soon becomes clear that Andie Bell’s case was left completely unsolved, but how far is Pip willing to bring the truth to Fairview? Someone out there doesn’t want Pip looking too closely at Andie’s case. How much danger is Pip really in? And how much is she willing to sacrifice?

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder revives the art and suspense of a gripping murder mystery.  Each chapter evokes a complete and utter thrill in its reader, as Holly Jackson pens an exhilarating investigation that leaves readers electrified until the very last page.  Jackson’s characters spring off the page, as they dangerously navigate the ups and downs of a small-town murder, with reluctant family members, wary suspects and a staggeringly persistent main character.  A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder guarantees a completely immersive experience for readers.  Especially considering. Jackson has written two successive stories that do its origin justice, ending off in a shocking interconnection between each book in the trilogy. In order to recultivate yourself back into reading in anticipation of fall, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is an unparalleled first step.  

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Imagine A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder but ten times as gruesome, and set one hundred and thirty years prior. Yes, that would be Kerri Maniscalco’s New York Times Bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper. Set in the year 1888, 17-year-old Audrey Rose disobeys her father and defies gender norms by apprenticing under her uncle as she studies forensic medicine. Cutting open bodies, analyzing crime scenes and dealing with organs are all activities in which 1880 London high society frowns upon women participating. However, such animosity does not bother Audrey as she decides to investigate a pattern of brutally murdered young women around the city. As bodies are piling up, Aurdrey must use her forensic talents and intellect to uncover the true monster behind these heinous acts of violence. Audrey's investigation soon leads her closer to her own life, and she must question the relationships that she holds closest to her. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper puts every reader on the edge of their seat as they make their way through the twists and turns of its mystery. Kerri Maniscalco expertly synthesizes the apprehension of a murder mystery with the complicated relationships Audrey has. This bone chilling adventure keeps readers guessing throughout, encouraging them to play detective along side the main character. One thing to keep in mind is that the book does include occasional images, which can be quite graphic and/or disturbing. Stalking Jack the Ripper is certainly not for the faint hearted! 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

A once-in-generation old-Hollywood starlet sparkles on each page of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.  This timeless rewind takes readers back into the celebrity culture of the fifties.  Evelyn Hugo is a strikingly beautiful up and coming actress, with the heart of the cinematic world in the palm of her hand.  However, she knows that one wrong move under the watchful eye of a misogynistic, short-tempered Hollywood will unlatch fans from her grasp. Her career is riding on her ability to stop the world from moving on to Hollywood’s new leading lady, Celia St. James, which is just as difficult for Hollywood, as it is for Evelyn herself.  A determined columnist with a chip on her shoulder immerses herself in Evelyn’s life story, with an astounding revelation in each chapter, exposing the glamor, secrets and sacrifice of being a Hollywood star.  Once a worshiped starlet, Evelyn Hugo reveals her story to the world with an authentic and witty glow to the twists and turns of her life.  As her biography unfolds, she slowly answers the question, was Evelyn Hugo the all-american cutout she was always believed to be, or was her true self hiding in plain sight?  

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo perfectly intersects the comfort and the exhilaration of a perfect fall read.  While Taylor Jenkins Reid undoubtedly crafts an unpredictable plot, the genuinity and complexity of each character puts its readers at easy instantly.  Evelyn Hugo, and her many acquaintances introduced throughout the story, light up each page with relationships that simultaneously exposes the chaos of fame and humanizes it.  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo allows readers the ‘inside scoop’ on the American Hollywood scene in the nineteen sixties, and intricately breaks up the delicacy of a woman navigating her life with the judgment of the rest of the world closely following her.  Taylor Jenkins Reid writes an electric, yet heartfelt novel that sets the tone for a reading season promoting authenticity, and human connection, a book that should be at the top of the fall reading list.  

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

What lengths would you go to preserve your youth? Oscar Wilde’s philosophical tale explores the life of Dorian Gray, a British elite during the late 1800’s who values his appearance over anything else. The narrative starts off with a young Dorian sitting before his friend Basil Hallward, who is painting his portrait. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian becomes infatuated with his own beauty and the thought of losing his youth sends him into a spiral. After wishing Basil’s portrait were the one to age instead of himself, Dorain spends the next decades of his life engaging in controversy and subterfuge while his portrait slowly warps into a horrific and disturbed version of him. The Picture of Dorian Gray is both a story and a warning. Wilde details a life among the London aristocracy involving cunning friends and scheming adversaries, power imbalances and selfish individuals. Was it not Dorian’s acquaintances that corrupted his mind? 

The Picture of Dorian Gray leaves one questioning themself. Is youth something we take for granted? Is getting old something we should fear? There is no question as to why Wilde’s novel has become a classic. The picture of Dorian Gray warns readers about the consequences of worshiping one’s beauty, and taking pride in their own. The book also explores many more topics of change, jealousy, trust, guilt, preservation, justice and revenge. While Wilde’s story may not be the most action-packed, nail-biting, electrifying tale ever told, the philosophical ideas and questions keep the reader engaged throughout. The Picture of Dorian Gray’s focus on beauty standards and the privileges one can receive from their looks continue to be relevant in todays world, which is why the novel continues to remain a timeless piece of literature.