Books with category 🌱 Coming of Age
Displaying 14 books

Slow Dance

2024

by Rainbow Rowell

A bright, beaming power ballad of a novel from Rainbow Rowell—the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Landline, Fangirl, and Eleanor & Park—Slow Dance tells the humorous and heartbreaking love story of best friends Shiloh and Cary from their inseparable teen years to their far-flung adulthoods as they try to figure out what their relationship is, where it went wrong, and how to finally make it right.

Growing up on the wrong side of Omaha, all Shiloh could think about was getting away. At least she had Cary in the meantime. Cary to put up with her, Cary to make her laugh. Cary at sixteen, built like a stick of gum and driving his mom’s beat-up station wagon. He had it worse than Shiloh did. Only their friendship got Cary through high school and when Shiloh went off to college, he joined the Navy.

That was fourteen years ago. Now Shiloh’s thirty-three and feeling like she never did get away. She’s back living in the same house she grew up in. She’s working in a theater, but not onstage like she’d planned. And she’s divorced, a single mom just like her own mother (minus the revolving door of boyfriends).

When a high school friend invites Shiloh to his wedding, the last thing she wants is to catch up with the old gang. But she buys a new dress, puts on some makeup, and pins a silk flower over her heart, hoping—and also worrying— that she might see Cary, the boy she never realized she loved until he was lost.

Carrie Carolyn Coco

2024

by Sarah Gerard

Carrie Carolyn Coco is an upcoming novel by Sarah Gerard. Details about the plot and characters are not yet disclosed, but readers can anticipate a compelling narrative that often characterizes Gerard's work. As the release date approaches, more information will become available to those eagerly awaiting this title.

The Liquid Eye Of A Moon

2024

by Uchenna Awoke

The Liquid Eye of a Moon is a masterful debut that has been likened to A Nigerian Catcher in the Rye. It delves into the silence surrounding a hidden and dangerous contemporary caste system in Nigeria.

Fifteen-year-old Dimkpa dreams of the day his father will be made village head, ushering in a new era for his family. With this change, he aspires to return to school, perhaps even attend university. He imagines a life where his mother won't have to toil endlessly, selling foraged wild food at the market, and where the construction of a fine tomb for his late aunt Okike can be a reality. Most importantly, their family’s status as ohu ma, belonging to the lowest Igbo caste, will no longer be a barrier.

However, when his father is unexpectedly overlooked for a younger man, defying tradition, Dimkpa realizes that his destiny is in his own hands. His journey takes him from his small village in rural Nigeria to Lagos, Awka, and back again. Along the way, Dimkpa discovers the harsh truth that wealth does not come easily, that superstitions are deeply ingrained, and that knowledge truly is power. He learns the value of living in the moment rather than constantly pursuing an elusive future.

The Liquid Eye of a Moon is at once hilarious and poignant, capturing the tumultuous nature of adolescence and the challenge of forging one's path in a world that seems intent on holding you back.

Ask Me Again

Ask Me Again is a debut novel by Clare Sestanovich, a finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, that delves into the coming-of-age story of a young woman named Eva and her unique friendship with Jamie. At sixteen, Eva, an observant and often insecure girl from south Brooklyn, meets the curious and bold Jamie from upper Manhattan's wealthy enclave. Their profound friendship is a journey of self-discovery and an exploration of values, beliefs, and life paths.

Eva embarks on a path of conventional success, achieving a prestigious degree, engaging in a classic romance, and starting an ambitious career. Jamie, on the other hand, takes radical steps in his quest for identity: he renounces his family, joins a political movement, and seeks conversations with the divine. Clare Sestanovich's exquisite prose weaves these two lives together, as they separately navigate the quest for personal values and purpose, the creation of self-identity, and the understanding of their roles in society and the pursuit of justice.

This narrative of intimacy spans time, posing questions about the alchemy of identity, the enigma of destiny, and the challenging journey to find faith—in oneself and in the wider world.

Housemates

Two young housemates embark on a road trip to discover themselves in a fractured America in this sparkling novel of love, friendship, and chosen family, by the award-winning author of The Third Rainbow Girl. What does it feel like, standing in the moments that will mark your life?

When Bernie replies to Leah's ad for a new housemate in Philadelphia, the two begin an intense and defiantly uncategorizable friendship based on a mutual belief in their art, and one another. Both aspire to capture the world around them: Leah through her writing; Bernie through her photography.

After Bernie's former photography professor, the renowned yet tarnished Daniel Dunn, dies and leaves her a complicated inheritance, Leah volunteers to accompany Bernie to his home in rural Pennsylvania, turning the jaunt into a road trip with an ambitious mission: to document America through words and photographs.

What ensues is a three-week journey into the heart of the nation, bringing the artists into conversation with people from all walks of life—as they try to make sense of the times they are living in. Along the way, Leah and Bernie discover what it means to pursue their own ideas and dreams, and to embrace what they are capable of both romantically and artistically.

Housemates is a warm and insightful coming-of-age story of youth and freedom, a glorious celebration of queer life, and how art and love might save us all.

Shae

2024

by Mesha Maren

Shae is a poignant coming-of-age story by Mesha Maren, one of the most exciting young queer writers on the literary landscape. This novel invites readers into the life of Shae, a teenager living in a rural small town in West Virginia. Shae's world is turned upside down when she falls in love with Cam, who is on the cusp of an important personal transformation.

When Shae, at the tender age of sixteen, meets Cam, the slightly older new kid in town, she believes she has discovered the ideal companion she's always desired. Their bond quickly escalates from friendship to something more. However, their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Shae becomes pregnant and Cam begins to transition, embracing female pronouns and experimenting with clothes that no longer fit Shae.

Amidst this personal upheaval, Shae faces another challenge - a struggle with opioid addiction following a traumatic C-section and the birth of their daughter, Eva. The story provides a stark look at the opioid crisis, particularly how it affects rural communities like theirs in West Virginia. As Shae grapples with her dependence, Cam continues her journey of self-discovery, confronting the harsh realities of being a trans woman in rural America.

Shae is a deeply emotional exploration of two young women's lives and the place they cherish, despite its flaws. This novel is a testament to Mesha Maren's storytelling prowess, following her acclaimed works Sugar Run and Perpetual West.

My First Book

2024

by Honor Levy

My First Book, by debut author Honor Levy, presents a collection of stories that both delight and ensnare. Levy's prose navigates the delicate balance between imagination and confession, capturing the essence of our cultural moment and the experience of growing up in a post-internet world.

Laden with digital interfaces, Levy's characters confront the formative political, existential, and romantic experiences of a reality that is at once hyper-real, hyper-performative, and teetering on the edge of collapse. In a world where a sense of impending disaster looms, a fragile self strives to take shape.

The stories in My First Book are wildly inventive, ambitious, and often surreal, reflecting the world as it stands. Levy's writing shines a light on what it means to be adorable, special, heavily medicated, consistently panicked, and utterly sincere. Through the eyes of various protagonists, readers encounter musings on modern life, the infinite nature of love, and even God in a downtown video game arcade.

As the characters seek to find and maintain faith, Levy offers a key to understanding Generation Z from the inside. My First Book not only captures the experience of an entire generation but also heralds the arrival of an electrifying new talent.

Lucky

2024

by Jane Smiley

Lucky is a soaring, soulful novel about a folk musician's rise to fame, penned by the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jane Smiley. Jodie Rattler, a girl growing up in St. Louis, discovers her love for music at a young age. A lucky day in 1955 at the racetrack with her Uncle Drew sets her on a path of chance and grit.

With a roll of two-dollar bills as her talisman, Jodie's hard work and serendipity spark a singing career that takes her from the heartland of America to the bustling streets of New York City, from the quaint English countryside to the sun-soaked beaches of St. Thomas, and from the cultural hubs of Cleveland and Los Angeles and back again.

As she matures in recording studios, backstage, and on tour, Jodie seeks to carve her own identity amidst the legends of her time—Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Joni Mitchell. Yet, as her fame grows, she grapples with a longing for something more. Is it true love she seeks, or is there another quest at the heart of her journey?

Rich with atmosphere and brimming with longing, exuberance, romance, and rock'n'roll, Lucky paints a colorful portrait of one woman's journey to find herself. It is a narrative woven with the threads of chance, the sparkle of true talent, and the enduring question of what it means to be truly 'lucky'.

The Limits

The Limits is a stunning new novel by the best-selling and prize-winning author Nell Freudenberger. Set across the vibrant landscapes of French Polynesia and the bustling intensity of New York City, this novel explores the lives of three characters who experience profound transformations over the span of a single year.

From the tiny volcanic island of Mo'orea, off the coast of Tahiti, a French biologist dedicated to preserving the endangered coral reefs sends her teenage daughter Pia to live with her ex-husband in New York. Upon arrival at her father Stephen's luxurious Manhattan apartment, Pia, who is fluent in French and intellectually advanced, meets his new, younger wife, Kate. Pia's life has been a constant shuttle between her parents' contrasting worlds: her father's demanding role as a surgeon in a New York hospital and her mother's urgent efforts against ecological destruction.

As COVID-19 imposes near total isolation, Pia is set on a path of rebellion, while Kate, a New York City schoolteacher, struggles to forge a connection with a teenager whose potential for havoc rivals her privilege. Meanwhile, Kate's sixteen-year-old student Athyna grapples with the weight of caring for her toddler nephew, Marcus, as she tries to complete her senior year online.

As Athyna's fears of the outside world grow, a crisis at home drives her to the brink of desperation. The lives of Pia and Athyna converge, leading them down parallel yet fundamentally different paths of tragedy.

The Limits is an emotionally charged narrative that delves into themes of nation, race, class, and family. It is a heart-wrenching and humane portrait of contemporary life, reflecting the stark inequalities of the 21st century and the enduring impact of colonial history.

The Women

2024

by Kristin Hannah

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, Kristin Hannah's The Women is an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances \

Broughtupsy

2024

by Christina Cooke

Broughtupsy is an enthralling debut novel that captures the cinematic yet intimate journey of a young Jamaican woman, AkĂşa, as she grapples with grief and the elusive concept of home.

Tired of feeling unmoored, twenty-year-old Akúa travels from Canada to Jamaica to seek a connection with her estranged sister Tamika following the death of their younger brother Bryson from sickle cell anemia—the same disease that claimed their mother ten years earlier. Akúa's mission is to spread Bryson's ashes and rekindle familial bonds.

During two pivotal weeks, the sisters revisit childhood haunts, revealing the chasm between them and the cultural distance Akúa has traversed. Struggling with her identity, she repeatedly questions, "Am I Jamaican?" Beneath these doubts simmer anger and abandonment issues, manifesting in the unasked question, "Why didn’t you stay with me?"

As AkĂşa disperses her brother's ashes around Kingston, she encounters Jayda, a bold stripper who introduces her to an alternate side of the city. Their growing closeness forces AkĂşa to face the harsh realities of being gay in a devoutly religious family and the broader implications of being a gay woman in Jamaica.

Broughtupsy weaves a narrative that is part family saga, part coming-of-age story, and part exploration of sexual identity. It is a profound narrative that delves into the complexities of family obligations and the lengths one will go to experience the essence of home.

Come & Get It

2024

by Kiley Reid

From the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age comes a fresh and provocative story about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.

It's 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job, and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie's starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardized by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue. A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption, and reckless abandon, Come & Get It is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion, and bad behavior.

Poor Deer

2024

by Claire Oshetsky

A wondrous, tender novel about a young girl grappling with her role in a tragic loss—and attempting to reshape the narrative of her life—from PEN/Faulkner Award nominee Claire Oshetsky.

Margaret Murphy is a weaver of fantastic tales, growing up in a world where the truth is too much for one little girl to endure. Her first memory is of the day her friend Agnes died.

No one blames Margaret. Not in so many words. Her mother insists to everyone who will listen that her daughter never even left the house that day. Left alone to make sense of tragedy, Margaret wills herself to forget these unbearable memories, replacing them with imagined stories full of faith and magic—that always end happily.

Enter Poor Deer: a strange and formidable creature who winds her way uninvited into Margaret’s made-up tales. Poor Deer will not rest until Margaret faces the truth about her past and atones for her role in Agnes’s death.

Heartrending, hopeful, and boldly imagined, Poor Deer explores the journey toward understanding the children we once were and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of life’s most difficult moments.

Mercury

2024

by Amy Jo Burns

It's 1990 and seventeen-year-old Marley West is blazing into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. A perpetual loner, she seeks a place at someone's table and a family of her own. The first thing she sees when she arrives in town is three men standing on a rooftop. Their silhouettes blot out the sun.

The Joseph brothers become Marley's whole world before she can blink. Soon, she is young wife to one, The One Who Got Away to another, and adopted mother to them all. As their own mother fades away and their roofing business crumbles under the weight of their unwieldy father’s inflated ego, Marley steps in to shepherd these unruly men.

Years later, an eerie discovery in the church attic causes old wounds to resurface and suddenly the family's survival hangs in the balance. With Marley as their light, the Joseph brothers must decide whether they can save the family they've always known—or whether together they can build something stronger in its place.

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