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Tag Archives: romance

Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra 

27 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Hindus, historical fiction, India, interfaith marriage, man-woman relationships, Muslims, Pakistan, Partition 1947, romance

April 2023 “Novels and Night” book club choice at the Weston Public Library

“Mesmerizing…At the heart of Malhotra’s sweeping debut novel is an indelible love story…A transcendent study of the blurring of personal and political, as ordinary people deal with catastrophic historical events.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“At once sweeping and intimate. With gorgeous prose and careful research, Malhotra brings to life a world rich with Indian perfumery, Urdu calligraphy, and a romance that defies time and space. A stunning book that reminds you of what it is to fall in love.”―Jenny Tinghui Zhang, author of Four Treasures of the Sky

“A long and luxurious tale of love, loss, memory, and place, told against a backdrop of tumultuous historical events…It will be difficult indeed to forget this exquisite story.”―Library Journal (starred review)

“A majestic, evocative exploration of the persistence of memory and the human connections that transcend even death.”―Booklist (starred review)

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Fault Lines by Emily Itami

12 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in 20th century, Fiction, Humor, romance

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adultery, families, housewives, Japan, man-woman relationships, romance, Tokyo

“Fault Lines is full of laugh-out-loud, irreverent humor, as well as heartstoppingly poignant, yet seemingly incidental, wisdom. All of the inner yearnings and tribulations of Mizuki are laid bare, offering one of the fullest, most thorough depictions of a character I have ever read. … Every line here is razor-sharp, chosen with precision, resulting in a deceptively clever, emotionally wise and truly heartbreaking novel.” — Bookreporter.com

“What’s intriguing about Fault Lines is its shrewd commentary on Japan’s societal expectations of women as either sex objects or dutiful mothers. As Mizuki eventually learns, it’s in striking a workable balance between these two dichotomies — her past life versus her present one, titillating desire versus familial obligations, who she wants to be versus who society dictates she should be — that the real work of living begins.” — Washington Post

“Mizuki is one of the most engaging adulteresses I’ve ever encountered, and a wonderfully witty guide to the morals and mores of contemporary Tokyo. I now know just how to behave while picking up children from school, or meeting strangers. Fault Lines is a moving and suspenseful novel full of the best kinds of incidental wisdom.” — Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in the Field

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The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

25 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in 20th century, Fiction, romance

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identity (psychological), man-woman relationships, married people, romance, Secrecy

Despite some struggles, Emma and Leo have a happy marriage and a daughter they love, but Emma has not been honest with Leo about who she really is. While the concept sounds like many popular thrillers, The Love of My Life is a slower, more thoughtful mystery about love and family, with beautiful descriptions of London and the English coast.

“Walsh masterfully shows both [protagonists’] points of view while maintaining an intoxicating air of mystery…a propulsive thriller with heart that will keep readers guessing.”—Kirkus, starred review

“[A] heartbreaking thriller…[that] explores the complexity of secrets in marriages…Walsh cleverly integrates twists that not even jaded readers will be able to predict…that builds to an emotionally raw yet satisfying conclusion. Walsh is a writer to watch.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The Love of My Life is a dazzling supernova of a book, it picks you up on line one and doesn’t let you go until the very end. Each chapter is filled with heart-breaking twists and revelations, and it is brimming with human warmth and intelligence.”—Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Night She Disappeared

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Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

27 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction

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21rst century, American, loss (psychological), love, romance, short stories

A wonderful collection of short stories by the author of Writers & Lovers, another great book. Author Lily King is able to do so much with each story, a few of which take place in New England, and all of which feature interesting, complicated characters and plots.

“Five Tuesdays in Winter moved me, inspired me, thrilled me. It filled up every chamber of my heart. I loved this book.” —Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author

[A] dazzling new collection…A series of beautifully written character studies brimming with insight into the human condition.– “Library Journal (starred review)”

King can make you fall in love with a character fast, especially the smart, vulnerable, often painfully self-conscious adolescent protagonists featured in several of the ten stories collected here…Full of insights and pleasures.– “Kirkus Reviews (starred reviews)”

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Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

16 Monday Aug 2021

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, romance

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Asian-Americans, Chinese Americans, man-women relationships, rich people, romance

This modern take on the classic novel A Room with a View also follows a young woman named Lucie as she travels through Italy with her aunt, accepts a marriage proposal, and falls in love with the “wrong” person. This is a fun, charming story from the author of Crazy Rich Asians.

“A summer romp with a satirical sting”— NPR

“A deliciously fun romp from Capri to Manhattan and East Hampton. Kwan is in fine form, gleefully name-dropping luxury brands and socialites as he spins a heartfelt, satirical tale that observes the price of fame, fortune and following your heart.”
—BookPage

“True love will find a way, even among the status-obsessed and filthy rich… [With] irresistibly knowing humor and delightful central characters… While he’s engineering the timeless love story and continuing our postgraduate education in all the things money can buy, Kwan manages to take a few swipes against snobbery and racism. Nice. This is the only way you’re getting to Capri this year. Why resist?”—Kirkus 

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What You Wish For by Katherine Center

18 Friday Sep 2020

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in 20th century, Fiction, romance, United States

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Galveston Island, romance, school librarians, teachers, Texas

Samantha was in love with her coworker Duncan when they worked together at the same school. Years later, with Samantha now working as a school librarian in Texas, the two are reunited, but Duncan is no longer the happy, carefree teacher he used to be. This love story is sad but also uplifting, and in these times I appreciated the message that one character shares with another: spread joy whenever you can.

The story’s message, that people should choose joy even (and especially) in difficult and painful times, seems tailor-made for this moment. A timely, uplifting read about finding joy in the midst of tragedy, filled with quirky characters and comforting warmth.–Kirkus (starred review)

“What You Wish For is a bona fide explosion of happiness packaged in book form. A compassionate story of grief and resilience, What You Wish For is also a vital reminder that joy is not just something that happens to us but also something we have the power to choose… Center has created for her readers a quirky confection that celebrates life in all its imperfect glory and delivers a much-needed dose of optimism.” — Bookpage

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In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Comedy, Fiction, romance

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life changing events, man-women relationships, Manhattan (New York, N.Y.), romance, self-realization in women, time travel, women lawyers

The same night that Dannie gets engaged, she has a dream that it’s five years in the future and she’s living with a different man. She tries to forget about it, until a few years later when she meets that same man from her dream. While this is partly a romance, it is also about Dannie’s life and career in New York City, and her relationship with her childhood best friend. Once you start, this is hard to put down.

“When smart, thoughtful writing pairs with a compelling, ingenious plot I am hooked and so very happy. It’s been a long time since I read a novel in two sittings, but as soon as I started In Five Years, I was a goner. Loved it! Brava, Rebecca Serle.” —ELINOR LIPMAN, author of Good Riddance

 “A heartwarming portrait of a broken heart finding a little healing magic.” —Kirkus Reviews

 “Heartbreaking, redemptive, and authentic in all the ways that make a book impossible to put down, I fell in love with this story. In five years, I will still be thinking about this beautiful novel.” —JAMIE FORD, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

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Writers & Lovers by Lily King

27 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, romance

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authors, life changing events, Massachusetts, romance, triangles (interpersonal relationships), waitresses

A 31-year old woman lives in a tiny apartment and works a stressful waitressing job as she grieves the unexpected death of her mother. Along with her financial struggles and tumultuous romantic relationships, she also yearns to be an author. I loved the characters in this story, the beautiful writing, and the Massachusetts setting (most of it takes place in Cambridge).

“[I]ntimate and vulnerable… Lily King’s novel follows a deeply relatable protagonist navigating a whole menu of crises surrounded by a cast of genuine, vivid characters… the book occupies a small space, but packs it to the brim with humanity.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“[F]unny and romantic and hard to put down, full of well-observed details of restaurant culture and writer’s workshops. It’s hard to imagine a reader who wouldn’t root for Casey.”―Library Journal, starred review

“King leaves no barrier between readers and smart, genuine, cynical, and funny Casey. A closely observed tale of finding oneself, and one’s voice, while working through grief.”―Booklist (starred review)

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Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

05 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Humor, romance

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arranged marriages, Canada, humor, love stories, man-women relationships, Muslim women, Muslims, romance

A great read on the lighter side – romantic, humorous, outrageous -unlike anything you’ve read before!  Delightful farcical cases of mistaken identity, disastrous proposals, Muslim-arranged marriages with a touch of Shakespeare and Austen thrown in.  An entertaining read guaranteed!

“Ayesha At Last is the modern Pride & Prejudice retelling I never knew I needed. Warm, witty, romantic, and relatable. Honestly, Darcy who? Khalid is everything.”—Alisha Rai, award-winning author

“There’s an overabundance of Pride and Prejudice retellings, but few are as thoughtful and creative as this stellar debut from an author to watch.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Jalaluddin cleverly illustrates the social pressures facing young Indian-Muslim adults…a highly entertaining tale of family, community, and romance.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abby Waxman

16 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by Weston Public Library Staff in Fiction, Humor

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families, humorous fiction, introverts, life changing events, love stories, romance, single women

This novel keeps up a fun, friendly patter while still dealing realistically and respectfully with mental health issues in the form of anxiety.  A good “cozy read,” a good “beach read,” a good choice for a wide range of readers.

“Waxman has created a thoroughly engaging character in this bookish, contemplative, set-in-her ways woman. Be prepared to chuckle.”—Kirkus Review (starred review)

“Book nerds will feel strong kinship with the engaging, introverted Nina Hill, who works in a bookstore, plays pub trivia, and loves office supplies… Readers will be captivated by Nina’s droll sense of humor.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Move over on the settee, Jane Austen. You’ve met your modern-day match in Abbi Waxman. Bitingly funny, relatable and intelligent, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a must for anyone who loves to read.”—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Good Luck With That

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