Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness.

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicide mentioned
  • Alcoholism
  • Bipolar Disorder
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Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act—suicide.

Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade. Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills. And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other’s help, they can find their way to a better life—but only if they’re strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism
  • Queermisia
  • Sexual, emotional & physical abuse
  • Teacher-student relationship mentioned
  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Substance addiction
  • Suicide & attempted suicide (theme)
  • Self-harm
  • Abortion mentioned
  • Psychiatric hospitalisation
  • Murder
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Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

Fig, a sixth grader, wants more than anything to see the world as her father does. The once-renowned pianist, who hasn’t composed a song in years and has unpredictable good and bad days, is something of a mystery to Fig. Though she’s a science and math nerd, she tries taking an art class just to be closer to him, to experience life the way an artist does. But then Fig’s dad shows up at school, disoriented and desperately searching for Fig. Not only has the class not brought Fig closer to understanding him, it has brought social services to their door.

Diving into books about Van Gogh to understand the madness of artists, calling on her best friend for advice, and turning to a new neighbor for support, Fig continues to try everything she can think of to understand her father, to save him from himself, and to find space in her life to discover who she is even as the walls are falling down around her.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism
  • Coming out themes
  • Child abandonment & neglect recounted
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Manic & depressive episodes
  • Suicide mentioned
  • Death of a wife mentioned
  • Bullying

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there’s romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life.

Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing that there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible …

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Parental abandonment
  • Anxiety
  • Parent with Bipolar Disorder
  • Alcohol consumption
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The Book Ninja by Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus

The Book Ninja by Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus

The Book Ninja by Ali Berg book cover

Sometimes love means having to broaden your literary horizons.

Frankie Rose is desperate for love. Or a relationship. Or just a date with a semi-normal person will do. It’s not that she hasn’t tried. She’s the queen of online dating. But enough is enough. Inspired by her job at The Little Brunswick Street Bookshop, Frankie decides to take fate into her own hands and embarks on the ultimate love experiment.

Her plan? Plant her favourite books on trains inscribed with her contact details in a bid to lure the sophisticated, charming and well-read man of her dreams. Enter Sunny, and one spontaneous kiss later, Frankie begins to fall for him. But there’s just one problem – Frankie is strictly a classics kind of gal, and Sunny is really into Young Adult. Like really.

A quirky and uplifting love letter to books, friendship and soulmates.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Cheating
  • Death of a loved one
  • Car accident (recounted)
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A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood

A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood

A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood book cover

A snow-dusted love story.

In the Autumn of 1931, eighteen-year-old Freya Trevelyan runs away from her home in Cornwall to follow her dream of becoming an actress. When she is invited to join a theatrical company about to head out on tour, Freya thinks the path to success is clear, and, amidst all the glamour and bustle of stage life, she finds – for the first time – a place to belong. But can reality ever live up to her expectations? What if her life – and falling in love – turn out to be nothing like she planned? An enchanting coming of age romance about following your dreams – even when they aren’t quite what you expected.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism & racist language, specifically ‘exotic’
  • Misogyny & sexism (including mansplaining)
  • Victim blaming & slut-shaming
  • Queermisia
  • Verbal abuse
  • Toxic relationship
  • Sexual assault (non-consensual kissing)
  • Sexual harassment
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Depressive episode
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Graphic emesis (on-page)
  • Blizzard
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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Suicide, attempted suicide & suicidal ideation (theme)*
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a sister
  • Death of a boyfriend
  • Car accident
  • Death by drowning

*Note: The main character dies by suicide at the end of book.

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