February 12, 2021
A Romance and a Retelling
Looking for a page-turner while you’re social distancing? Our Driftwood staff provides some of our favorite light reading picks to pass the time while cooped up at home.
Fiction:
My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Everyone in the small coastal town of Stony Brook, Connecticut thinks 17-year-old Samantha Reed has it all: perfect looks, perfect grades, perfect house, perfect family. And yet, every day, Sam sits on her balcony and longs for things to be different. Her wish comes true when the dreamy boy next door, Jace Garrett, climbs up her terrace one summer evening and turns her life upside-down. Sam falls wildly in love, not only with her kindhearted new boyfriend but also Jace’s family; his parents and seven siblings are loud, messy, chaotic, affectionate, and full of unconditional love. Then, just when Sam feels happier than ever before, tragedy strikes, and she’s faced with an impossible decision: Should she stay loyal to her own “perfect” family, or save the Garretts, who are perfectly imperfect in all the right ways? Full of endearing characters and a heartwarming story, My Life Next Door is an irresistible summer romance that you’re guaranteed to enjoy from start to finish!—Mallory Allen
The Wrath and the Dawn
by Renée Ahdieh
Due to the worldwide pandemic, many potential vacation plans have come to a halt. But if you’re still looking to scratch that travel itch, I might have a solution: consider Renée Ahdieh’s fantasy novel, The Wrath and The Dawn, inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.The country of Khorasan lives in fear of their cruel ruler, Khalid. Every night, the king takes a new bride, and every morning, she is killed. Shahrzad, a young woman, loses her best friend by the king’s hand and volunteers to be his next bride, with plans to kill him instead to avenge her friend’s death and put an end to his reign of terror. She survives the first night by telling Khalid a story with a cliffhanger, promising to finish the story the next night. Shahrzad manages to survive night after night, and soon discovers the Caliph is not what he seems…and even finds herself falling in love. This book is perfect for anyone who likes a bit of mystery, magic, and even romance. But be warned: it ends on a massive cliffhanger, so make sure to have a copy of the sequel, The Rose and The Dagger, on hand before you start!
by Renée Ahdieh
Due to the worldwide pandemic, many potential vacation plans have come to a halt. But if you’re still looking to scratch that travel itch, I might have a solution: consider Renée Ahdieh’s fantasy novel, The Wrath and The Dawn, inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.The country of Khorasan lives in fear of their cruel ruler, Khalid. Every night, the king takes a new bride, and every morning, she is killed. Shahrzad, a young woman, loses her best friend by the king’s hand and volunteers to be his next bride, with plans to kill him instead to avenge her friend’s death and put an end to his reign of terror. She survives the first night by telling Khalid a story with a cliffhanger, promising to finish the story the next night. Shahrzad manages to survive night after night, and soon discovers the Caliph is not what he seems…and even finds herself falling in love. This book is perfect for anyone who likes a bit of mystery, magic, and even romance. But be warned: it ends on a massive cliffhanger, so make sure to have a copy of the sequel, The Rose and The Dagger, on hand before you start!
—Olivia Meyer, Books Editor