dear mr. hemingway’s 2020 holiday books & pairings
Pomegranate Seeds & Young Adult Reads
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn (Wednesday Books)
Easy breezy holiday reading coming your way. Oh boy…Luke and Vada! Be prepared to get your SWOON on with Hahn’s musical romance. Light and fun…feel good and frothy…enjoy sweet friends.
From the publishers: “Growing up under his punk rocker dad’s spotlight, eighteen-year-old Luke Greenly knows fame and wants nothing to do with it. His real love isn’t in front of a crowd, it’s on the page. Hiding his gift and secretly hoarding songs in his bedroom at night, he prefers the anonymous comfort of the locally popular podcast he co-hosts with his outgoing and meddling, far-too-jealousy-inspiringly-happy-with-his-long-term-boyfriend twin brother, Cullen. But that’s not Luke’s only secret. He also has a major un-requited crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell.
Vada’s got a five-year plan: secure a job at the Loud Lizard to learn from local legend (and her mom’s boyfriend) Phil Josephs (check), take over Phil’s music blog (double-check), get accepted into Berkeley’s prestigious music journalism program (check, check, check), manage Ann Arbor’s summer concert series and secure a Rolling Stone internship. Luke Greenly is most definitely NOT on the list. So what if his self-deprecating charm and out of this world music knowledge makes her dizzy? Or his brother just released a bootleg recording of Luke singing about some mystery girl on their podcast and she really, really wishes it was her?
“In “More Than Maybe“, Erin Hahn’s swooniest book yet, Luke and Vada must decide how deep their feelings run and what it would mean to give love a try.”
P.S. Pair this musical read with some organic and biodegradable hair scrunchies from GoGo Refill.
Smash It by Francina Simone (Inkyard Press)
Liv’s story is for everyone. Young Adults and adults alike will love this equally. Heartfelt and spunky….enjoy Liv and her brand new attitude!
From the publisher: “After Liv shows up to a Halloween party in khaki shorts–why, God, why?–she decides to set aside her wack AF ways. She makes a list–a F*ck-It list.
- Be bold–do the thing that scares me.
- Learn to take a compliment.
- Stand out instead of back.
She kicks it off by trying out for the school musical, saying yes to a date, and making new friends. Life is great when you stop punking yourself. However, with change comes a lot of missteps, and being bold means following her heart. So what happens when Liv’s heart is interested in three different guys–and “two” of them are her best friends? What is she supposed to do when she gets dumped by a guy she’s not even dating? How does one “Smash It “after the humiliation of being friend-zoned?
“In Liv’s own words, “F*ck it. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“A lot, apparently.
“#SMASHIT.”
P.S. Who needs wrapping paper when you can slip this book in a book-loving bag from the Happy Letter Collective. Perfection!
Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community by Born This Way Foundation, Lady Gaga (Feiwel & Friends)
I am a big Lady Gaga fan. Not just for her music, but all the good she does in this world. This book is no exception. In a time of uncertainty and a time where we all could benefit from a little more positivity and joy in our lives, this book of individual stories of kindness is a book for NOW!
From the publisher: “The quiet power of kindness can change the way we view one another, our communities, and even ourselves. She embodies this mission, and through her work, brings more kindness into our world every single day.
Lady Gaga has always believed in the importance of being yourself, being kind to yourself, and being kind to others, no matter who they are or where they come from. With that sentiment in mind, she and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, founded Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the world a kinder and braver place. Through the years, they’ve collected stories of kindness, bravery, and resilience from young people all over the world, proving that kindness truly is the universal language. And now, we invite you to read these stories and follow along as each and every young author finds their voice just as Lady Gaga has found hers.
Within these pages, you’ll meet young changemakers who found their inner strength, who prevailed in the face of bullies, who started their own social movements, who decided to break through the mental health stigma and share how they felt, who created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and who have embraced kindness with every fiber of their being by helping others without the expectation of anything in return.”
P.S. Masks are a necessity these days. Read your book in style and with kindness with this face mask from Bird & Stone.
Dear Mr. Hemingway’s 2020 Holiday Books & Pairings
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