The Girls by Emma Cline

Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is in thrall to Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader. Hidden in the hills, their sprawling ranch is eerie and run down, but to Evie, it is exotic, thrilling, charged—a place where she feels desperate to be accepted. As… Read more.,

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Ableism (r slur)
  • Fatphobia & weight-shaming
  • Adult-minor relationship
  • Child abuse & neglect and parental abandonment
  • Alcohol consumption & drug use

The Guest by Emma Cline

A misstep at a dinner party, and the older man she’s been staying with dismisses her with a ride to the train station and a ticket back to the city. With few resources and a waterlogged phone, but gifted with an ability to navigate the desires of others, Alex stays on Long Island and drifts like a ghost through the hedged lanes, gated driveways and sun-blasted dunes of a rarified world that is, at first, closed to her. Propelled by desperation and a mutable sense of morality, she spends the week leading up to the end of the holidays moving from one place to the next, a cipher leaving destruction in her wake.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic abuse mentioned
  • Statutory rape
  • Alcohol consumption & drug use

Context : The 20-year-old female protagonist has sex with a 17-year-old boy.

No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn

Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children or that she’d have to struggle every day to make ends meet. So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don’t come without a price. And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it’s impossible to know who to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Rape of a child
  • Spousal & parental abandonment
  • Alcohol consumption

If We Were Perfect by Ana Huang

Olivia had a plan: MBA, Wall Street VP by thirty-two, marriage and two children (preferably twins because #efficiency). Not in her plan? Losing half her belongings in an apartment flood and being forced to turn to her ex for help. Definitely not in her plan? Moving into said ex’s house and watching him walk around shirtless, bake her cupcakes, and look at her with those smoldering— Wait, what was she talking about again? Between his bakery and meddling family, Sammy had enough on his plate without bringing the ex he’d never been able to forget into the mix… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Infidelity (secondary character, recounted)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Emesis

King of Sloth by Ana Huang

Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.  He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him…unless the woman in question is his publicist. Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants. Cool, intelligent, and ambitious, Sloane… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Emotional & physical child abuse recounted
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Parent with cancer mentioned
  • Animal death (pet) mentioned

King of Pride by Ana Huang

Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified. With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings. Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own. Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm…except for Kai Young… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Anxiety & intrusive thoughts
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Drug use & overdose
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Gun violence
  • Blackmail & stalking

A Risk Worth Taking by Jessica Joyce

Claire Ashford has always led a careful life—her family didn’t nickname her Claireful for nothing. But after ending a relationship that was equal parts safe and unfulfilling, she recognizes just how much her caution has cost her and dedicates herself to leaving her Claireful ways behind. Her first chance to take a risk comes with a job opportunity in San Francisco. It’s a fresh start she can’t—and doesn’t want to—refuse. Her second chance? That appears on her last night in Portland in the form of a gorgeous attendee at the holiday party where she’s bartending. Lingering glances turn into a chemistry-filled… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Alcohol consumption

You, with a View by Jessica Joyce

Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos and letters that hint to a forbidden love in her gram’s past. Needing to know the full story, she creates a TikTok video appealing for information – and it goes viral. Through her video, she manages to track down her grandmother’s secret love, Paul, who offers to take her on the honeymoon road-trip he and Gram planned but never got to go on. Noelle jumps at the chance to make this one last connection with her grandmother. There’s just one problem – Paul’s grandson is… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Emotional parental abuse (off-page)
  • Chronic back pain & minor sports injury
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Death of a grandmother recounted
  • Discussions of employment and financial concerns

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Imogen Scott may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s got the World’s Greatest Ally title locked down. She’s never missed a Pride Alliance meeting. She knows more about queer media discourse than her very queer little sister. She even has two queer best friends. There’s Gretchen, a fellow high school senior, who helps keep Imogen’s biases in check. And then there’s Lili—newly out and newly thriving with a cool new squad of queer college friends. Imogen’s thrilled for Lili. Any ally would be. And now that she’s finally visiting Lili on campus, she’s bringing her ally A game. Any supp.. Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Biphobia & internalised biphobia
  • Coming out & outing (theme)
  • Alcohol consumption

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

Samiah Brooks never thought she would be ‘that’ girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she’s been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah – along with his two other ‘girlfriends’, London and Taylor – have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men, no dating, and no worrying about their relationship status. For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she’s always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Alcohol consumption
  • Pregnancy & infertility mentioned (secondary character)
  • Hospitalisation of a friend from injuries sustained in a bike-bus accident (off-page)