If We Were Villains (Alyssa’s Pick)

“Actors are by nature volatile—alchemic creatures composed of incendiary elements, emotion and ego and envy. Heat them up, stir them together, and sometimes you get gold. Sometimes disaster.”

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio is a Mystery/Thriller read about a group of Shakespearean theater students struck by tragedy when the line between performance and reality blurs.

“I adored the riveting plot line to this story, and from page one fell in love with the complexity and rawness behind each character.”

Educated (Katie’s Pick)

“Everything I had worked for, all my years of study, had been to purchase for myself this one privilege: to see and experience more truths… to use those truths to construct my own mind. I had come to believe that the ability to evaluate many ideas, many histories, many points of view, was at the heart of what it means to self-create.”

Educated by Tara Westover is a Biography/Memoir piece that follows Westover’s unexpected yet powerful journey through acquiring access to education and breaking her preconceived perceptions of the world, in tandem with the harsh realities placed against her. 

“I really like the book because it showed me the privileges and powerful influence of education that so many of us seem to take for granted.”

Ender’s Game (Hadia’s Pick)

“Perhaps it’s impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be.”

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is a Dystopian/Science Fiction read that follows a young boy, Ender, as he’s chosen and shipped off to a military training program for the intellectually gifted. Recruited to save the world, Ender battles through precarious situations that quickly uncover his unusual abilities.

“Ender’s Game drew me in with its unique plot structure and psychological twists. The unpredictable storyline weaved in lots of action and kept me turning pages!”

Book Lovers (Izzy’s Pick)

“If I had to pick one person to be in my corner, it’d be you. Every time.”

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is a Contemporary Romance novel that follows Nora Stephens, an ambitious NYC literary agent, and Charlie Lastra, a brooding NYC editor, after crossing paths in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Both visiting for different reasons, the two bickering adults can’t seem to avoid each other long enough and are faced with the reality that maybe it’s all meant to be.

“Book Lovers is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s witty, funny, the characters are relatable and the writing style is unmatched. It’s the perfect book to annotate and I could not recommend it enough.”

Vicious (Ansley’s Pick)

“The paper called Eli a hero. The word made Victor laugh. Not just because it was absurd, but because it posed a question. If Eli really was a hero, and Victor meant to stop him, did that make him a villain? He took a long sip of his drink, tipped his head back against the couch, and decided he could live with that.”

Vicious by V. E. Schwab is a Science Fiction novel that recounts the intricate revenge story between two old friends, Victor and Eli. Both fueled by a college thesis gone wrong, the rivals take you on their ambitious ventures towards each other, leading you to question who is truly vicious.

“This book questions your morals encapsulates the essence of academia, and defines competitiveness within 364 pages.”