When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family—and from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racist microaggressions
  • Misogyny
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10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Cancer mentioned
  • Death of a parent recounted
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The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay

The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay

At Cate’s isolated boarding school, Killer is more than a game—it’s an elite secret society. Members must avoid being “Killed” during a series of thrilling pranks, and only the Game Master knows who the “Killer” is. When Cate’s finally invited to join the Assassins’ Guild, she know it’s her ticket to finally feeling like she belongs.

But when the game becomes all too real, the school threatens to shut it down. Cate will do anything to keep playing and save the Guild. But can she find the real assassin before she’s the next target?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Anxiety
  • Suicide (faked)
  • Poisoning
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Other Boys by Damian Alexander

Other Boys by Damian Alexander

Damian is the new kid at school, and he has a foolproof plan to avoid the bullying that’s plagued him his whole childhood: he’s going to stop talking. Starting on the first day seventh grade, he won’t utter a word. If he keeps his mouth shut, the bullies will have nothing to tease him about—right?

But Damian’s vow of silence doesn’t work—his classmates can tell there’s something different about him. His family doesn’t look like the kind on TV: his mother is dead, his father is gone, and he’s being raised by his grandparents in a low-income household. And Damian does things that boys don’t usually do, like play with Barbies instead of GI Joe. Kids have teased him about this his whole life, especially other boys. But if boys can be so cruel, why does Damian have a crush on one?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Coming out
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother
  • Bullying
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Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson

Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson

Ramón Montez always achieves his goals. Whether that means collecting Ivy League degrees or growing his father’s fast-food empire, nothing sets Ramón off course. So when the sexy señorita who kissed him on the Day of the Dead runs off into the night with his heart, he determines to do whatever it takes to find her again.

Celebrity chef Julieta Campos has sacrificed everything to save her sea-to-table taqueria from closing. To her horror, she discovers that her new landlord is none other than the magnetic mariachi she hooked up with on Dia de los Muertos. Even worse, it was his father who stole her mother’s taco recipe decades ago. Julieta has no choice but to work with Ramón, the man who destroyed her life’s work–and the one man who tempts and inspires her.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Parental abandonment recounted
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Gentrification
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Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Makeup vlogger Cam isn’t looking for love, but when a real-life lumberjack arrives on his doorstep, long-held desires bubble to the surface. And when the handsome older stranger asks if Cam might be up for a photoshoot, wearing little more than rope and a smile, Cam’s eager to oblige.

Johnny isn’t looking for a permanent connection either, but he’s intrigued by the sweet yet glamorous Cam. With each sexy picture he takes, their connection deepens. He cares for Cam, maybe a little too much.

Their chemistry is amazing, so Cam can’t help but hope he’s finally found someone who can see past his glitzy exterior and love him for who he really is. But Johnny’s known for keeping things casual. Is the power of love enough or will Cam get his inexperienced heart crushed?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Death of an uncle, recounted
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Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Doctor Quinn Strauss is beloved by his small-town patients. He almost never drinks, especially not alone on a weeknight. But he’s heartbroken over an unexpected reminder of exactly how much his bad breakup has cost him. And the sexy ginger bartender keeps making him special drinks that go down a little too easy.

Take a drunk doc home… Bartender Adam Ringer can tell when someone’s hurting, and the heroic local doctor is practically radiating pain. Adam’s a natural caretaker and can’t help but spring to Quinn’s rescue. And when the drunk and rambling Quinn reveals a mutual sexy interest, Adam’s other instincts are intrigued. He can’t wait for Quinn to sober up… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Pregnancy
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Finally Yours by Elena Aitken

Finally Yours by Elena Aitken

They say your forties are the new twenties. Maybe that would be true if my ex-husband hadn’t turned out to be a lying, cheating, stealing ass who left me with nothing except my pride. And it’s that pride that should keep me from accepting Phillip Conrad’s sexy, sinful, and way too indecent proposal to pay off the debt I owe him. I should walk away. I should slap him. Hell, I should tell him exactly where he can shove his offer. But I can’t. Because Phillip and I have unfinished business and it’s long past time to see if that spark between us has the potential to become a full-fledged inferno. Besides, if forty is the new twenty, and a second chance is really on the table, then maybe it’s not too late for some excitement. The sexier the better. And if I’m really lucky? Maybe I’ll get my happy ending after all.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Cheating
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Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos 

Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger–it’s the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home.

While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can’t express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova’s new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she’s counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she’ll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, “No matter what, I’ll be there. I promise.”

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism
  • Disappearance of a sibling
  • Foster car system
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What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

What I Carry by Jennifer Longo

Growing up in foster care, Muir has lived in many houses. And if she’s learned one thing, it is to Pack. Light. Carry only what fits in a suitcase. Toothbrush? Yes. Socks? Yes. Emotional attachment to friends? foster families? a boyfriend? There’s no room for any additional baggage.

Muir has just one year left before she ages out of the system. One year before she’s free. One year to avoid anything–or anyone–that could get in her way. Then she meets Francine. And Kira. And Sean.

And everything changes.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Foster care system
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