Five picks for November

Buzz Reads is a column about books by reviewer Cindy Burnett. Each month, Cindy recommends five recently or soon-to-be released titles.

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (fiction) – Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham team up for the first time in The Academy, a book set at a boarding school similar to the one Shelby attended. The book opens on move-in day amidst the drama of school starting, the reuniting of friends, and teachers gearing up for another school year. In the middle of the chaos, school administrators learn that the school catapulted up to the second spot in national rankings. As the congratulations pour in, scandalous issues begin anonymously appearing on people’s phones through an app, setting the students and faculty on edge. Hilderbrand and Cunningham successfully weave together the drama created by teenagers (and faculty) through their relationships and rivalries as well as focusing on teenage dynamics, social pecking order, relationships and break-ups, and the disruption caused by a transfer student. This lighter take on the campus novel is entertaining from beginning to end. This book is a great fit for those wanting a frothy and light read.

Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (fiction) – This modern-day Persuasion retelling is a second-chance love story set against the backdrop of New York City. While at NYU, Anne and Freddie developed a passionate but complicated relationship that ended abruptly without the closure either desired. Eight years later, Freddie unexpectedly moves into Anne’s apartment building, and both individuals slowly begin to wonder if breaking up was a mistake. As in Austen’s Persuasion, the duo’s relationship is filled with missed opportunities and quiet regrets, but as they work to reconnect, they also realize that with maturity comes a new chance at love. The authors successfully capture the bittersweet feelings of long-lost love and the persistent ache of “what if,” with a bustling New York City providing a vibrant backdrop. This book will appeal to romance lovers and those who enjoy classic retellings.

Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli (thriller) – Creatively narrated by three women whose lives were taken by the same man, Ask for Andrea is a fresh take on the serial killer trope. Meghan, Brecia, and Skye all met James on a dating app, where he pretended to be charming and available; instead, he murdered each of them. Now these women must work together from beyond the grave to prevent him from preying on another victim. This compelling premise will have readers madly turning the pages cheering on these women as they try to find a way to stop the predator that took their lives. The character development is strong, each woman has a distinct voice, and the manner in which the story is relayed is creative. Ask for Andrea was self-published several years ago and, due to its popularity, was picked up by a traditional publishing house, Kensington, for an October release in hard cover with sprayed edges. Ask for Andrea is a quick and highly engaging read for fans of imaginative plots and fast-paced storytelling.

Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story by Jeffrey Kluger (nonfiction) – “Without Gemini, there would be no Apollo.” This sentence encapsulates the profound importance of the Gemini program on the subsequent Mercury and Apollo programs. In Gemini, Kluger chronicles the history of the Gemini (pronounced Geminee) program from its origins, highlighting both its numerous successes and failures. Consisting of 10 flights over the course of just 20 months, Gemini sent men into space for the first time, but also led to deaths and near deaths and all sorts of other failures that at times will have the reader marveling at how a moon landing ever happened at all. Kluger manages to bring a very human element to this riveting story as he details the challenges and dangers faced by the Gemini missions and the astronauts who participated. Rob Reiner narrates the fabulous audio production. This one is a good fit for fans of nonfiction, untold stories, and adventure stories.

Life, & Death, & Giants by Ron Rindo (fiction) – Life, & Death, & Giants is a tender, heartbreaking, character-driven tale about an abnormally large young man who leaves his mark on the world. Gabriel’s mother dies giving birth to him so he is raised first by his older brother and subsequently by his Amish grandparents. As Gabriel makes his way through the world, various individuals shape his life and his choices. Numerous themes are woven through the book including the importance of community, faith, personal growth, and learning to coexist with those whose beliefs are radically different. The characters are well-crafted and genuine, and the focus on the Amish community and their beliefs was a fascinating component of the book. Make sure you have tissues when reading this one; it is a tearjerker. The audio production is outstanding. This book will provide a lot of discussion for book clubs and will appeal to those who enjoy thought-provoking and unique premises. 

Editor’s note: Book reviewer Cindy Burnett also writes our weekly Page Turners column. She hosts an award-winning book podcast entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast, runs the Instagram account @thoughtsfromapage, and regularly speaks to groups about books.