7 books we’re loving now

Women’s fiction

Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

“Last Sunday was rainy and quiet, so I asked my friend for a book recommendation, and she excitedly suggested that I download this one,” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. “Not only was the book good company on my day off, I never expected to be so touched by the story.” Raymond Jaffe is struggling. The teen’s only friend moved away, he doesn’t get along with his mom’s new husband and their kids, and he’s feeling lost—until his neighbor, a blind 92-year-old woman named Mildred, asks for his help. She hasn’t heard from her friend Luis, who has been helping her with groceries, and she’s worried—and running out of food. Raymond befriends Mildred and decides to find Luis on his own. Cheers Patty, “The relationship that develops between the unlikely pair warmed my heart and left me feeling hopeful!” (Lake Union, 2019)

Romance

The Love Proof by Madeleine Henry “Once in a while, I find myself filled with anxiety when wondering if there’s any real order to the universe or if everything that happens is just random chaos,” shares Alexandra Pollock, FIRST Senior Editor. “With that question in mind, I picked up this book—and found a few answers that eased my soul.” Physics prodigy Sophie Jones is on track to unlock the secrets of time at Yale, until she meets Jake Kristopher, and their unexpected love carries her away from her studies. But after a change later in life leaves her pondering, Sophie returns to her studies, determined to prove that no matter where and when we are in time, true love endures. Says Alex, “A heartfelt exploration of the nature of love and human connection, I walked away from this book feeling like I had learned a lot—about the laws of time, but also about the ways in which the ones we love are always connected to us, no matter what.” (Atria, 2021)