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Summaries of 9,843 books.

  1. Empress of the World

    Sara Ryan

    ★ 3.7 (13k) average on GoodreadsYoung Adult

    At a summer program, shy Nicola finds unexpected first love with confident dancer Battle, which changes how she sees attraction and herself.

  2. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

    Annabel Pitcher

    ★ 4.0 (13k) average on GoodreadsChildren's

    After a family tragedy, ten-year-old Jamie navigates his changed world, putting together memories of his sister, Rose, whose ashes sit on the mantelpiece.

  3. Furthermore

    Tahereh Mafi

    ★ 3.9 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A girl without color travels through the strange land of Furthermore with a boy made of lies to find her missing father and reclaim the magic she believes she lost.

  4. By a Thread

    Lucy Score

    ★ 4.2 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A strong woman, fired by her new boss, finds herself drawn to him as they navigate a workplace romance while each tries to understand the other's past.

  5. Infernal Devices

    Philip Reeve

    ★ 3.9 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A headstrong teen's abduction by a limpet sub cult forces her parents on a dangerous rescue mission, revealing old secrets and reviving past conflicts amid the 'Great Game' of moving cities.

  6. Reservation Blues

    Sherman Alexie

    ★ 4.0 (13k) average on GoodreadsLiterary Fiction

    When blues legend Robert Johnson gives his enchanted guitar to a Spokane Indian storyteller, a misfit band begins a magical, soul-searching tour from reservation bars to New York City, changing their understanding of music, magic, and their own identities.

  7. The Duchess of Malfi

    John Webster

    ★ 3.6 (13k) average on GoodreadsFiction

    A powerful duchess defies her brothers' tyranny and incestuous desires, leading to her brutal murder and their descent into madness in this Jacobean tragedy.

  8. The Ordinary Princess

    M.M. Kaye

    ★ 4.2 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    Gifted with ordinariness in a world of enchanted princesses, Amy flees a forced marriage only to discover that true magic lies not in royal beauty, but in finding an equally un-extraordinary prince while working as a kitchen maid.

  9. The Mistress of Spices

    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

    ★ 3.5 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    In an Oakland spice shop, an immortal mistress of ancient spices finds her existence challenged by human love and a choice between eternal duty and mortal passion.

  10. Secrets of My Hollywood Life

    Jen Calonita

    ★ 3.7 (13k) average on GoodreadsChildren's

    A jaded teen TV star ditches the red carpet for a "normal" high school, only to discover that the drama of celebrity might just be a preview for the cutthroat world of cafeteria cliques and locker-side whispers.

  11. The Well of Loneliness

    Radclyffe Hall

    ★ 3.7 (13k) average on GoodreadsHistorical Fiction

    In a world that denies her existence, Stephen Gordon makes her own way through the early 20th century, seeking love and belonging as an 'invert' while battling societal condemnation and an unyielding heart.

  12. Generation Dead

    Daniel Waters

    ★ 3.6 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A Goth girl falls for a silent, undead leader, forcing her to choose between societal norms and a love that defies death.

  13. The Bone Labyrinth

    James Rollins

    ★ 4.1 (13k) average on GoodreadsThriller

    Neanderthal bones and cave art send Sigma Force on a global hunt, uncovering a 50,000-year-old conflict between early humans and monstrous shadows, while a modern genetic threat endangers humanity.

  14. Gather Together in My Name

    Maya Angelou

    ★ 4.3 (13k) average on GoodreadsBiography

    In the ongoing story of her life, Maya Angelou navigates young adulthood, single motherhood, and a search for identity among memorable characters and the constant need to survive.

  15. Possession

    A.S. Byatt

    ★ 4.3 (13k) average on GoodreadsRomance
  16. The Death and Life of Great American Cities

    Jane Jacobs

    ★ 4.3 (13k) average on GoodreadsHistory

    Jane Jacobs's work challenges mid-20th-century urban planning, showing how diverse city life, not top-down design, creates safe, healthy neighborhoods.

  17. Flamecaster

    Cinda Williams Chima

    ★ 4.0 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A prince-healer bent on regicide and a saboteur marked by fate find their paths entwined in a kingdom rife with dark magic, forcing them to choose between vengeance and an unexpected destiny.

  18. Henry and Ribsy

    Beverly Cleary

    ★ 4.0 (13k) average on GoodreadsChildren's

    A young boy's dream of salmon fishing with his dad hangs by a thread, constantly threatened by his mischievous dog Ribsy and the unpredictable antics of the neighborhood's most imaginative, and troublesome, girl, Ramona.

  19. Dance of Thieves

    Mary E. Pearson

    ★ 4.3 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    A legendary thief and an outlaw dynasty leader clash in a deadly dance of wits and unexpected romance, each driven by secret missions that could either save or shatter their worlds.

  20. Pavilion of Women

    Pearl S. Buck

    ★ 4.1 (13k) average on GoodreadsHistorical Fiction

    A Chinese matriarch chooses her husband's concubine, unraveling tradition and sparking her own journey of self-discovery and forbidden learning.

  21. Once a Runner

    John L. Parker Jr.

    ★ 4.1 (13k) average on GoodreadsHealth

    Stripped of his team and scholarship, collegiate runner Quenton Cassidy retreats to a monastic existence, sacrificing everything for the singular, obsessive pursuit of breaking the four-minute mile against the greatest miler in history.

  22. Poke the Box

    Seth Godin

    ★ 3.8 (13k) average on GoodreadsBusiness

    Stop waiting for permission or a roadmap; 'Poke the Box' is a call to action to initiate change, create your own path, and learn by doing in a world that needs your unique contributions.

  23. Philosophical Investigations

    Ludwig Wittgenstein

    ★ 4.2 (13k) average on GoodreadsPsychology

    Wittgenstein shows how everyday words are not precise tools but a jumble of interconnected games, constantly shifting in meaning and use.

  24. Opposite of Always

    Justin A. Reynolds

    ★ 3.7 (13k) average on GoodreadsFantasy

    Jack gets an impossible do-over, reliving the funny and sad loops of his first love with Kate. He tries to rewrite their story, but finds some futures cannot change, and some sacrifices are too big.

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