The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

If you love The Great Gatsby in any form, The Chosen and the Beautiful is a fascinating twist on the classic. 

Nghi Vo reimagines Jordan Baker as a queer, Asian adoptee navigating the glittering excess of the 1920s—while also wielding a quiet, eerie magic. The fantasy elements aren’t in-your-face but woven subtly into the story, letting you catch them as you go. It’s dreamy, sharp, and just the right amount of haunting—a fresh take on a world that already feels otherworldly.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

I always thought I would hate a book about covid and lockdown but I guess… we’re far enough from it now (while possibly being on the cusp of another?) that it almost seems… quaint?

I’m sure that’s not the right word but it almost fits.

The memories of everything shutting down, the quiet cities, and uncertainty of interacting with others works so well to establish an unsettling premise here. Add in the possible romance and moving in with someone you’ve been on just a few dates with and the stakes are certainly high!

I think the twists were really good because you think you have one figured out, then the rug is pulled out from beneath you right at the end. And not in an underhanded way - you have all the information all along, it’s just not what you expect. I liked the time jumps and how more was revealed each time.