Staff Picks: Olivia Luchini’s Favorites
Howdy! My name is Olivia Luchini (she/her) and I am an Assistant Editor for Penguin Workshop. My bookshelf is largely full of romances, essay collections, thought-provoking nonfiction, and anything funny. When I’m not reading, I’m volunteering at a cat shelter, doing a spin class, writing my own books, attending a comedy show, or yapping. You can find me on Instagram at @olivialuchini.
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Add to BookshelfQueen Bee
by Amalie Howard
Since Shonda Rhimes gave us a new season of Bridgerton this year, my desire to read Regency-era titles full of gossip, secret identities, and romance has gone up 200% — and Queen Bee satisfies that desire perfectly. This YA title is about a quest for revenge against a former best friend and is perfect for readers who like smart, vindictive, bold leading ladies. Ela’s story is satisfying as she truly commits to the act of getting back at someone who ruined her life by killing her former self and creating an entirely new identity to re-enter the society that cast her out years ago … all to ruin the life of the person who ruined hers. As you may have guessed, there is also an exciting romance between Ela and her childhood-friend-turned-crush-turned-enemy-turned-lover, Keston.
Add to BookshelfPaperback
$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Romantic Comedy: Reese’s Book Club
by Curtis Sittenfeld
My childhood obsession was Saturday Night Live, especially the writer’s room. For that reason, Romantic Comedy is a perfect book for me. This book follows Sally, a funny, jaded writer on a fictional version of the popular sketch show (The Night Owls). Sally is fixated on a trend she has noticed in her comedy career: Absolutely gorgeous women will fall head over heels for her male coworkers just because they are funny, but that never happens when it comes to female comedians and classically handsome men. Then, a beloved male pop star comes on the show as a guest host, and Sally’s theory might just be proven wrong when the two fall for each other.
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$18.00Buy from Other Retailers:
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First Love
by Lilly Dancyger
The earth-shattering loss of a cousin who doubled as a best friend and sister inspires author Lilly Dancyger to look back on the female friendships that defined her life through a romantic lens, dubbing these bonds some of her first loves. This essay collection encourages us to fall backward into the nostalgia we harbor for our childhoods and be comforted by the loving embrace of the girls who defined our coming-of-age periods. First Love asks relationships to take the backseat for once and pulls friendships to the foreground as we examine what it truly means to love and be loved.
Add to BookshelfHardcover
$28.00Buy from Other Retailers:
