Wambugu’s debut novel opens with Ruth, a successful painter, grappling with the absence of her friend: “When I met Maria, I learned that without an obsession life was impossible to live.” The rest of the novel moves back in time to unravel the roots of that obsession. Their story opens in their poor Pawtucket, Rhode Island, neighborhood when Ruth—the quiet, sheltered daughter of emotionally distant Kenyan immigrants—meets Maria, a gifted Panamanian orphan staying with her mentally ill aunt. Nearly a decade later, the girls graduate from their Catholic high school and attend Bard College, a small liberal arts school in New York’s Hudson Valley, to study art: painting and film, respectively. As Maria carves out a space within the overwhelmingly rich and white social circles, Ruth finds herself on the outskirts of her friendship with Maria—and even her own life. When Ruth, Maria, and Sheila, Maria’s wealthy girlfriend, move to New York City after graduation, a gulf begins to open between the friends. While Ruth struggles to make her art and a living, Maria continues to find professional and social success. Their hard-to-define relationship faces the ultimate test when they have to decide what, if anything, they are willing to give up for each other. The novel shows all the ways that their friendship—warm and cold, tender and terrible—exists in the area between extremes. Maria takes up an outsized space in Ruth’s life, and Ruth allows herself to be at the whims of Maria’s wants or needs. Despite hurting each other, they are bonded in a way that only long-term female friends seem capable of—and this novel distills this dynamic with devastating precision. Writing beautifully about ambition, class, art, domesticity, identity, and complacency, Wambugu’s prose is as striking as it is sure.

This dual-perspective psychological thriller​​ invites readers into the fraught lives of two girls who are caught in a spiral of secrets​, guilt​, and betrayal​. Told in the voices of Syl Jameson, a 17-year-old​ who dies in a suspicious car crash​, and Viola Harrison, also 17, her estranged former best friend​ and prime suspect​, the book deftly balances the paranormal with gritty emotional realism​. Syl’s ghostly narration​ pulses with quiet intensity as she pieces together what happened and why​, while Viola’s voice exposes the complex impact of friendships, privilege​, and trauma​ that defined their relationship. The small-town American setting of Lovell (ironically nicknamed Love Hill) feels like a character in its own right​. The heavily Christian community, established in the late 1600s “by white supremacists,” pushes queer residents into hiding. This work by Belgian author Paul, who wrote it in English, features sharp​, emotionally resonant​, and deeply atmospheric prose. The structure of the book, which lets readers choose whose version to read first, cleverly emphasizes the subjectivity of truth​ but can at times lead to repetitiveness. Even though some revelations lack depth, the narrative maintains a steady pace and will linger long after readers turn the last page. All characters read white.

Anne Lee gave up her one true love in college, persuaded by her aunt that he was too young and directionless for her. Splitting up with Frederick Nam broke her heart, but Anne convinced herself it was the right choice for her, saddled as she was with family responsibilities. Ten years have passed and Anne is back from her decade in Korea as a successful K-drama actress. While her father and older sister are as cold and self-centered as ever, Anne is now determined to live on her own terms. Then she meets Frederick again in her cousin Bethany’s second grade class, where he’s telling the kids about being a firefighter. The encounter shocks them both but is followed by repeated meetings due to mutual friends. These social brushes, during which they are nothing but polite to each other, are interspersed with internal monologues in which they relive old griefs and regrets. Readers familiar with Jane Austen’s Persuasion will know how the plot unfolds, with both characters pining and hoping for a different outcome to their romance. Lee centers her rewrite of the classic novel on a Korean family in Los Angeles, recasting Captain Wentworth as an ex-finance guy and fire department captain and Anne Elliott as a dutiful Korean daughter who is learning to trust her instincts. The novel sticks closely to the beats of its inspiration, but the lack of communication between Anne and Frederick becomes tiresome without the original’s powerful prose, especially after an abrupt sex scene. The device of including some of Frederick’s old email love letters plus the dual point of view belabors the fact that they love each other but do not trust that they are loved in return.

Savvy Summers’ family was part of the Black migration from Mississippi to Chicago, and it’s her great-aunt Essie’s recipes that make Sapphire Summers Soulfood Café and Catering Company, aka Essie’s, a hit. At the 50th anniversary party Savvy and her sous-chef, Penny, cater for Matilda and Grandy Jaspers, the food disappears faster than you can say “soul food.” But the gossip and longtime grudges that hang over the event make Matilda unhappy. Grandy, still bitter over disputed songwriting credits, is unashamed when pregnant young Shysteen Shackleford shows up, hinting that Grandy might be the father. The next morning, Grandy shows up at Essie’s looking ill, and after breakfast, he falls over dead. By the time Savvy caters the funeral, rumors are already spreading that her sweet potato pie was the cause of his death. To top it off, the Department of Health shuts down Essie’s while they investigate. But Savvy’s not about to give up, even though Noble McPherson keeps pressuring her to sell the restaurant and franchise it as a soul food brand. Savvy’s still suspicious about Grandy’s death, and the official ruling of heart failure doesn’t revive the business. To make matters worse, her alderman, Delbert Daily, who’s already under investigation for a multitude of crimes, won’t help her. When the real cause of Grandy’s death turns out to be an overdose of Viagra, Savvy turns to her ex-husband, police officer Fanon, and his ex-partner for help deciding which of a long list of people most wanted Grandy dead.

While her brother can easily make friends with anyone he speaks to, and her sister is an outspoken activist, Imani is shy and has a harder time talking to people. After her family moves from South Los Angeles to Brooklyn to explore new business opportunities for their food truck, the Calypso Grill, Imani is excited to be in the “fashion capital of the world.” She’s even more excited to learn that her new school will be hosting a fashion competition. The grand prize is a scholarship to her dream school, DeKalb Art and Design High School. But after someone steals her contest design and she’s accused of plagiarism, Imani goes undercover with a secret alias on social media to take on the person who stole her work. She also uses her account to share new designs, messages of positivity, and insights on cultural inspiration versus appropriation. The story moves at a brisk pace, immersing readers in Imani’s colorful world of bold designs, cultural pride (her father is from Barbados, and her mother is from Ghana), and artistic expression. It’s a heartfelt exploration of identity, creativity, and the courage to be seen and to stand up for yourself.