Staff Picks: Imani Gary’s Favorites

Anna and the French Kiss feels like it was taken from the pages of my teenage dream journal, only it’s a thousand times better than any romance I could have ever dreamed of. This book is responsible for my unrealistic expectations in romantic relationships and I’m not even mad about it. It’s about an American girl that’s a senior in high school who gets unexpectedly shipped off to boarding school in Paris where she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The problem? He’s taken. Read this book if you’re a fan of YA romance, but also if you’ve been enjoying Emily in Paris, Dash & Lily, or any other story that’s about people falling in love with each other, but also living life to the fullest in the city they live in.

Whether or not you’ve seen Star Wars of read any of the other novels set in that universe, this book is perfect for you if you’re a fan of young-adult SFF. It’s a friendship story at heart full of action and adventure. Listening to the audiobook fully immerses you into the story and it’s an experience fans of all things space opera won’t forget.

If you’re a fan of contemporary romance, you need to know who Jane Igharo is. Her debut novel Ties That Tether is about a Nigerian woman who falls for a man that she knows her family will not approve of. This book is not your typical rom-com. It may start with a bang, but it’s a slow burn full of angst that explores the importance of one’s relationship with their family and their culture. The writing is gorgeous and clever, the story is emotional and powerful, and the ending will have you dying for Jane’s next novel.

Gone Girl is a must-read for any thriller fan, but this book holds a special place in my heart because it was the first adult thriller I’d ever read. The twists and turns in this novel to this day blow my mind and made me a fan of domestic suspense and Gillian Flynn.