Jubilant July Staff Picks

“When a plane bound for the Dominican Republic crashes shortly after takeoff, two girls grieve the loss of their father. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic with her aunt and dreams of studying in New York City, where her father lives. Yahaira, a skilled chess player, lives in New York with her parents. Unbeknownst to them, they share a father who maintained two separate families. Camino and Yahaira struggle to understand the complicated man they knew as their father while beginning to develop a familial bond of their own. Elizabeth Acevedo returns to poetry as she takes a close look at grief, betrayal, and family.”

“Everyone has played the game of selecting five favorite people to attend their ultimate dinner party. For Sabrina, however, the game has become a reality. The Dinner List is a magical night full of wistfulness, nostalgia, love, and loss. Who among us has not wished for an opportunity to reconnect with a loved one or converse with someone admired from afar? Readers everywhere will sink their teeth into this delicious and heart-warming tale of one enchanted evening.”

“I have had the pleasure of reading all of Elin Hilderbrand's books. My favorite has always been her first novel, The Blue Bistro. I'm afraid to say the 28 Summers has officially dethroned The Blue Bistro in my heart. Listening to 28 Summers was a total delight to my ears. It is based on one of my favorite movies, Same Time Next Year. 28 Summers tells the story of Mallory and Jake. Jake is a college buddy of Mallory's brother, Cooper. Although Jake is involved in a relationship, he immediately becomes enamored by Mallory. The reader is given a birds-eye view of their blossoming romance that begins on Labor Day weekend and continues on that same weekend for 28 years. If you are looking to escape some of the awful news in the world, and you appreciate a story of enduring love, this book is for you. As an added bonus, the fabulous narrator is the cherry on this delicious sundae.”

“Cherie Dimaline’s latest novel packs a wallop of a story. Absolutely stunning in every way, this latest offering follows the story of Joan, whose husband has disappeared, and her courage when confronted with truths and lies. She and her husband, Victor, live in a Métis community, close and tight knit. As Joan deals with the fallout of her emotions after Victor disappears, she comes across another man, Eugene Wolff, who bears her husband’s face. He does not carry Victor’s memories and insists he has no idea who Joan’s husband is. Turning over rocks to find the truth, Joan reaches out to whomever she can in her community for help. What waits for her at the end of her quest is incredible. This novel will have you at the edge of your seat!”

“ To everyone who started telling me to read this book a year ago, I’m sorry. You were right - I loved it, unequivocally. The romance was sweet and gentle and real. But the humor put it over the top for me. I needed to laugh like that, desperately. And I did, a lot. A whole lot. But I also cried - because this book is pure, wholesome, and hopeful, even when it dipped into the darker places (with so much grace). Red, White, & Royal Blue gave my heart wings, and I'm still soaring. So to everyone who's still hesitant, don't be me - get on this train ASAP.”

“What do you get when you cross a disillusioned romance author with a Hemingway wannabe? A compulsively readable book where you kind of hope for your train to be delayed so you can spend a few more minutes with January and Gus. These two, saddled with writer’s block, make a pact to write the other’s genre. Literary snobbery is (rightfully) called out, and the two begin to navigate a friendship outside of writing as they explore the other’s process. Reader, I loved it.”

“Big Lies in a Small Town offers an intriguing mystery that caused me to stay up way past my bedtime on several occasions. The author perfectly weaves the 1940 and the 1918 storylines throughout alternating chapters, captivating the reader with main characters Anna and Morgan, as well as a host of fascinating supporting players. The ending offers a surprise twist that catches the reader unaware. A must-read for mystery lovers as well as those who appreciate art.”