May is proof that 2021 is zooming by! Luckily, we have some highly anticipated great reads picked out. I have been trying to cut down my use of tech devices when I’m not working, with the exception of my Kindle, of course. Next time you feel “bored,” go for a book instead.

Take What You Can Carry: A Novel by Gian Sardar: In this historical fiction, an aspiring photographer, Olivia, joins her boyfriend on a trip to northern Iraq for a wedding. What’s supposed to be a beautiful escape becomes a reality of the dangers posed by the Iraqi military and their strict laws in the war-torn beautiful country.
Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan: This is a must-read for my remote-working pals out there. We’re all online and working virtually, but what does that mean for social cues and body language? As a communications junkie, Erica Dhawan helps us navigate the world online with digital communication skills we could all use.
I Thought You Said This Would Work: A Novel by Ann Garvin: Two former best friends set out on the ultimate adventure that will test their bond, will and sanity: a road trip. They both set out to see their mutual best friend who is in the hospital. There’s nothing like life on the road to bring out the worst and best in people.
Great Circle: A Novel by Maggie Shipstead: Marian and Jamie Graves dream of an epic life outside of the bounds of Montana, and they finally get their chance when pilots pass through town with their biplanes. A century later, we learn the story of the Graves sisters, and actress Hadley Baxter plays Marian. She delves into the character and learns more than she ever expected about the sisters’ lives.
Grand Dishes: Recipes and Stories from Grandmothers of the world by Iska Lupton and Anastasia Miari: Recipes…from grandmothers? Oh, I am so in. I’ve had some of my best meals recreating my own grandmother’s specialties. A book focused on “what it’s like to have lived,” and a collection of must-try recipes from around the world.
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent: Birdy takes on the ultimate summer job, only after her best friend Heather turns it down. However, she takes the job as Heather and quickly finds herself struggling to cover her tracks and fake her way as a wine expert. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
Tokyo Ever After: A Novel by Emiko Jean: OK, I couldn’t resist this Princess Diaries-like story. Japanese-American Izumi’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan. She travels to Japan for the first time to make sense of her discovery, and of course, meets a whole lot of crazy family members along the way.
Mango and Peppercorns: A Memoir of Food, an Unlikely Family, and the American Dream by Tung Nguyen: This beautiful book is a unique combination of recipes, archival images and a gripping family history.
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon: Sorrowland follows Vern, a young girl who flees the cult-like commune where she was raised to provide a better life for herself and her children. Sorrowland is a powerful story about motherhood, survival, and the cruel treatment of Black bodies.