What We Are Reading in November

As long as Simran has known Rajan, her immigrant community has warned her about him. Especially since he got out of juvie, he’s been described as an addict, a gangster, and a killer. But Simran has seen his thoughtfulness firsthand: He’s the only one who’s noticed the pressure she’s under to be perfect — and how close she is to breaking.

When Rajan’s old gang tries to force him back in, Simran makes a desperate bargain. She’ll become their bookkeeper to clear his debts and keep him out of prison. But Rajan won’t leave her side while she works, and their forbidden attraction is becoming harder to ignore. Worse, there’s a gang war brewing — and neither of them is likely to get through it unscathed … if they get through it at all.

To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.” However, life upcountry is being disrupted by a cold war between two nations.

Eirale graduated from Nile Military Academy and joined private forces downcountry, as instructed, but is framed for assassinating a government official. She can either go down for treason or cooperate with a wanted anarchist. Meanwhile, Lia is finishing up at the academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to track down a traitor goes wrong. 

If you’ve ever felt like financial success was only for “other people,” here’s a beginner-friendly guide from money educator and Gen Zer Lillian Zhang ― specifically for Gen Zers ― to create a thriving future. It covers simple updated money rules, touching on the basics of savings accounts, credit cards, and student loans, as well as financial literacy for teens finishing high school, college students approaching graduation, and young adults seeking financial independence. The book also includes information about digital finance, such as automated savings, budgeting apps, and microinvesting. Zhang also informs readers about being smart with cryptocurrency, “Buy Now, Pay Later” options, and one-click shopping. 

The takeaway of the book: Change your money story, no matter what you were (or weren’t) taught about money growing up, learn how to conquer financial fears, and grow wealth from the ground up.

Izzy Chen is dreading her family’s Chinese New Year celebration, where everyone flaunts their status and successes to one-up each other. When her 73-year-old grandmother walks in with a stunning woman and kisses her in front of everyone, Izzy is shaken. She’d always considered herself the black sheep of the family for harboring similar feelings to the ones her Nainai just displayed.

Seeing herself in her teenage granddaughter’s struggles with identity and acceptance, Magnolia Chen tells Izzy her own story, of being sent as a teen by her Indo-Chinese parents from Jakarta to Los Angeles for her education. She fell in love with someone completely forbidden to her by both culture and gender norms — Ellery, an American college student who became Magnolia’s best friend and the love of her life. Stretching across decades and continents, Magnolia’s star-crossed love story reveals how life can take unexpected turns but ultimately lead you to exactly who you’re meant to be.

The billionaire Sun Clan of Greater Los Angeles is your typical American family, with power-struggling aunties, emasculated uncles, scheming cousins, scandalous secrets, and a fortune teller on retainer. Yet a storm is brewing. The matriarch, Roses Sun, must produce a male heir with the clan’s surname. If the family’s lineage ends with her generation, they will be punished as “hungry ghosts” in the afterlife.

Believing that her nephew Wayward possesses the “lucky seed,” Roses presents him with an offer: to father a baby boy who will inherit everything. When the rest of the clan catches wind of this plot, all hell breaks loose. Yet through the chaos, Wayward sees opportunity. What if he can leverage the conflict into a solution that heals and reunites his family? And what if the tumultuous Suns can finally learn how to love each other for the first time?

Mia Yoon has a plan for everything. Go to film school in Los Angeles and escape her middle-of-nowhere hometown — check. Produce her own dating show starring other people and their crushes — check. But everything goes off the rails when she enlists the help of her own secret crush, Noah Cho, a boy she’d rather hate.

Despite being voted “most eligible student bachelor” on campus, Noah can’t remember the last time he was in a relationship. And he’s perfectly content with that, especially since he is uncomfortable with feelings. But he can’t stop staring at Mia, who keeps glaring at him in class. And when she asks him to be a contestant on her dating show, he can’t say no.

Life is built on single decisions. Choose wisely. This is one of life coach Nikki Parekh’s mottos. That and being open to opportunities and taking leaps without fear. But when Nikki accepts her boyfriend’s casual proposal of marriage, she has enough doubts that she seeks advice from her not-so-nurturing mother, Tara.

To Nikki’s surprise, Tara, who raised her daughter to be self-sufficient, urges Nikki to trust her decision. Maybe that’s because Tara has made a headstrong decision of her own. After nearly 40 years of marriage, she’s divorcing Nikki’s father. She’s already packing up an RV to search for her first love. So what’s a daughter to do with a runaway mother? Join her.

In the sixth book of Mia P. Manansala’s A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, love is in the air for the citizens of Shady Palms. Lila Macapagal can’t wait to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend, Jae Park. Contributing to the romantic atmosphere is Hana Lee, Jae’s cousin and chocolatier at Choco Noir, the latest addition to the town’s culinary offerings. 

Unfortunately, a series of attacks against women-owned businesses in the area escalates from petty theft to assault and murder when Hana is found knocked unconscious inside Choco Noir, and the chocolate shop owner is put out of business — for good. With Hana left in a coma, a murderer hiding out, and the safety of the women entrepreneurs of Shady Palms at risk, the Park brothers team up with other locals to put a stop to the villain before they strike again.