Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan

Fence: Striking Distance written by Sarah Rees Brennan, created by C.S. Pacat & illustrated by Johanna the Mad

Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Cox is the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion who dreams of getting the proper training he could never afford. After earning a place on the elite Kings Row fencing team, Nicholas must prove himself to his rival, Seiji Katayma, and navigate the clashes, friendships, and relationships between his teammates on the road to state championships—where Nicholas might finally have the chance to spar with his golden-boy half-brother… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Classism
  • Child abuse & neglect mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption mentioned
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

What a Tangled Web by Melissa Brayden 

What a Tangled Web by Melissa Brayden

As a winemaker at Tangle Valley Vineyard, Madison LeGrange relies on science and logic to make the best vintage possible. It’s also how she manages her life. But with her career in its prime, her accountant thinks it’s time she diversifies her income. Not a problem because her favourite café, the Bacon and Biscuit, is up for sale. What she didn’t plan on was the time she’d spend with Clementine, who has her feeling anything but logical Clementine Monroe loves her job managing the Bacon and Biscuit Cafe. In fact, after escaping a difficult past, it’s all she has. When Clementine is offer… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse recounted
  • Alcohol consumption

Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden 

Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden

All work and no play has Autumn Primm in the market for a little excitement. Her Venice Beach coffee shop, The Cat’s Pajamas, is her pride and joy. While she doesn’t mind the long hours, she finds herself staring dreamily out the window, imagining the life she’s yet to lead. The time has come to take off the apron and see what the world has in store. Kate Carpenter needs to get away. And quick. A small-town firefighter, Kate’s been crowned a local hero for reasons she can’t quite get behind. An open highway and some time off have her fleeing the scene to sunny California.. Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment & neglect
  • Fertility treatments
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of parents mentioned
  • Fire mentioned

The Baby is Mine by Oyinkan Braithwaite

The Baby is Mine by Oyinkan Braithwaite

When his girlfriend throws him out during the pandemic, Bambi has to go to his Uncle’s house in lock-down Lagos. He arrives during a blackout, and is surprised to find his Aunty Bidemi sitting in a candlelit room with another woman. They both claim to be the mother of the baby boy, fast asleep in his crib.

At night Bambi is kept awake by the baby’s cries, and during the days he is disturbed by a… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexism
  • Child neglect
  • Cheating
  • Alcohol consumption, on-page
  • Recreational drug use, on-page
  • COVID-19 (theme)
  • Emesis
  • Physical illness & tribal marking disfigurement of a baby
  • Blood depiction
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of an uncle & husband recounted
  • Animal slaughter, on-page
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet 

The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet

The Unwilling is the story of Judah, a foundling born with a special gift and raised inside Highfall castle along with Gavin, the son and heir to Lord Elban’s vast empire. Judah and Gavin share an unnatural bond that is both the key to her survival… and possibly her undoing.

As Gavin is groomed for his future role, Judah comes to realize that she has no real position within the kingdom, in fact, no hope at all of ever travelling beyond its castle walls… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Graphic emotional & physical child abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Drug use
  • Murder
  • Torture
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Della can’t work out why her adored older sister Suki screams in her sleep. Suki has always been Della’s protector, especially after their mother went to prison and her boyfriend took the sisters in. But who has been protecting Suki?

Della is in trouble at school for having a big mouth, but after she stands up to the class bully other girls rally to her cause. When Suki tries to kill herself, Della decides it’s time to tell their secrets and speak out… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexual assault
  • Verbal & emotional abuse
  • Addiction
  • Attempted suicide
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Open Season by CJ Box

Open Season by C.J. Box

There’s nothing unusual about the sound of a gunshot in Twelve Sleep. Here in remotest Wyoming, where elk roam the pine forests and cougars prowl the mountains, everyone owns a gun. But when Joe Pickett hears two sharp cracks ring out months before hunting season, it’s his job to investigate. As game warden in Twelve Sleep, father-of-two Joe Pickett is not only badly paid and poorly housed, but deeply unpopular. So when the source of the shots – a well-known poacher – gets off scot-free after a humiliating confrontation, the locals are delighted. And then the poacher turns up dead in the Pickett’s backyard. Charged with… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse
  • Death of a child
  • Murder
  • Gun violence
  • Blackmail
  • Animal hunting
  • Animal cruelty
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants… a threesome.

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this? … Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child neglect recounted
  • Homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Substance addiction mentioned
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Domestic violence
  • Parental neglect
  • Alcoholism
  • Substance addiction
  • Vehicular manslaughter
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman 

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Sephy is a Cross: dark-skinned and beautiful, she lives a life of privilege and power. But she’s lonely, and burns with injustice at the world she sees around her. Callum is a nought: pale-skinned and poor, he’s considered to be less than nothing – a blanker, there to serve Crosses – but he dreams of a better life.

They’ve been friends since they were children, and they both know that’s as far as it can ever go. Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse
  • Domestic abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Suicide
  • Murder
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com