Blog • NOVL

5 Books to Read If You Like Black Mirror (but need a relatively happier ending)

I took some of my favorite Black Mirror episodes and paired them with a book recommendation based on similar themes. While not all books on this list are as dark as Black Mirror is, they all still shake me to the core.

listicleValerie WongJune 17, 2019you must not miss, katrina leno, phantom wheel, tracy deebs, reality boy, a. s. king, a match made in mehendi, nandini bajpaiComment

The Bold Type Characters as Book Characters

If you’re not watching The Bold Type on Freeform, then you’re missing out on some seriously A+ content. It follows Jane, Kat, and Sutton, who all work at Scarlet, a global women’s magazine, and their nuanced and intersectional lives. Of course, as someone who has books on their mind 24/7, I couldn’t help but to relate the characters from the show to characters from our books.

listicleValerie WongJune 11, 2019amelia westlake, erin gough, little & lion, little and lion, brandy colbert, throw like a girl, sarah henning, internment, read internment, samira ahmed, twilight, stephenie meyerComment

5 Books for When You Go Through a Big Life Change, but Everything Will Be Okay

Sometimes, big changes are thrown at you like curveballs from life, speeding in from out of nowhere to smack you in the face. Other times, big life changes are expected and anticipated and yet no less difficult. Either way, with every big life change comes an adjustment period. So here are some books for when you go through a big life change, but everything will be okay.

listicleSavannah KennellyJune 5, 2019the revolution of birdie randolph, brandy colbert, the plain janes, cecil castellucci, jim rugg, six impossible things, fiona wood, hello goodbye and everything in between, jennifer e smith, jennifer e. smith, the loose ends list, carrie firestoneComment

8 Pride Reads for June and Beyond

Happy June, and happy Pride month! To all of our friends and readers on the LGBTQIA spectrum and beyond, we’re so happy you’re here. I hope you take a few moments to celebrate and breathe—being yourself shouldn’t be a radical act, but it is. The world has a long way to go, but I have faith in your (and our) fight. So no matter where you are on your journey, remember that there will always be people in the world who support you. You always deserve a seat at the table. And you always deserve to be seen in the books you read.

listicleGuest AuthorJune 4, 2019trans mission, alex bertie, jack of hearts, l. c. rosen, little & lion, little and lion, brandy colbert, amelia westlake, erin gough, we contain multitudes, sarah henstra, ash, malinda lo, the summer of us, cecilia vinesseComment

6 Books That Will Emotionally Destroy You but Also Heal You

There are few things I enjoy more than the catharsis of a truly good cry. Does that make me weird? Ask the innumerable strangers who’ve witnessed me full sob while reading in public. *puts on sunglasses* Don’t judge me!

listicleBill GraceMay 23, 2019we contain multitudes, sarah henstra, dear evan hansen, val emmich, steven levenson, benj pasek, justin paul, the hearts we sold, emily lloyd-jones, astonishing color of after, the astonishing color of after, emily x.r. panComment

What to Read Based on Your Netflix Queue

Tell me what’s in your Netflix queue, and I’ll give you a book rec! (And then we can all continue to put off watching all those things we just haven’t gotten around to watching yet.)

listicleBill GraceMay 22, 2019amelia westlake, erin gough, jack of hearts, l. c. rosen, hello goodbye and everything in between, jennifer e smith, jennifer e. smith, a match made in mehendi, nandini bajpaiComment

6 Books that Inspire Activism

Raising your voice is hard, but the simple act of one person speaking out is activism. And sometimes, one voice breaking the silence makes all the difference. If you don’t necessarily know where to begin your activist journey, take my advice: read to resist.

listicleBill GraceMay 16, 2019internment, read internment, samira ahmed, we are displaced, malala yousafzai, trans mission, alex bertieComment

Books About Grief, Because Emotions Are Weird and We Need to Talk About Them

Feelings are weird. Brains are weird. Grief is weird. So when it comes to dealing with grief, it’s completely normal to feel like nothing makes sense, or that the world is turned upside down. But in our hours of need, books are always there for us to help us cope. They might not solve our problems, but it sure does help to know you’re not the only person feeling this way.

listicleGuest AuthorMay 15, 2019astonishing color of after, the astonishing color of after, emily x.r. pan, i crawl through it, a. s. king, dear evan hansen, val emmich, steven levenson, benj pasek, justin paul, how she died book, mary crockett, secondhand heart, tamsyn murrayComment

The Cutest Meet-Cutes That Ever Did Meet Cute

What’s the cutest meet-cute that you’ve ever met? The first encounter between romantic interests is always memorable—whether they know it or not, WE know that we’re in for a hell of a ride. Beginnings are exciting and exhilarating, and they’re one of my favorite parts of a couple’s story. So of course I HAD to round-up some of my absolute favorite cute meet-cutes for all you cutie-pies.

listicleGuest AuthorMay 14, 2019rule, read rule, ellen goodlett, the bone houses, emily lloyd-jones, light years, kass morganComment