Young Adult Fiction: Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams

Author Tia Williams is perhaps more well-known for her adult romance books, such as Seven Days in June. When I learned that a character from that book would be the star of her first young adult novel, Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, I went on a mission to pick up both books and read them. In today's book, Audre goes on her own mission that will be crucial for her application to Stanford, and the person that is going to help her is the mysterious new guy in town.

The Situation: High school junior Audre Mercy-Moore loves to help her fellow students, and she only charge $45 for each therapy session. Of course, she is not a professional, and also still in high school, but despite this, Audre is excited to use the upcoming summer break to work on her self-help book, a side project she is convinced will impress the Stanford admissions board. But when her plan to visit her dad in California falls through, she needs to find the time and quiet space to finish her book, and also obtain more material and experience than her perfect student/perfect daughter lifestyle has allowed for. Lucky for her, Bash Henry is fun, mysterious, and, if the rumors are true, always ready for a good time.

The Problem: When Audre hired Bash as her "fun consultant," it was mostly due to his reputation. Everyone seems to have a crush on him; he seems to show up to every party (and has thrown a few of his own); and he has a sort of effortless and unbothered vibe that Audre could never accomplish. She is determined to stay focused on her book, but she also cannot deny that Bash is attractive, and smart, and nice. And it seems that the growing romantic feelings are mutual. But the 'mystery' of Bash presents a problem. Sure, some of the rumors are clearly false, but Bash is definitely holding something back. This should help Audre keep things professional, but that only gets more difficult the more they hang out with each other.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around modern-day New York City, specifically Brooklyn. Audra has just completed her junior year of high school, while Bash has graduated after transferring mid-year from California, where he was a track star. The character of Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in Williams' Seven Days in June as the daughter of author Eva Mercy. In this book, Audre is still charging for therapy, is still ambitious and driven, and still does not know the truth about Eva's past. And Bash is running from a decision that ended everything back in California, and for this first time must figure out his future, since the one his dad planned for him is no longer an option.

My Verdict: Not only do I believe that fans of teen rom-coms will love this one, but fans of Williams' writing will love it as well (both teens and adults). Audre was a fan-favorite character from Williams' previous book, so having her be front and center here will delight many. And even though she is older now, she is still head-strong, funny, and outspoken, and ready to take on nearly anything. Bash may be a mystery to everyone around him at first, but as his story unfolds, the reader is given insight into a young man who has been through too much, and now has little in the way of guidance for whatever comes next. The book is fun, heart-warming, insightful, tense in places, and an overall enjoyable read.

Favorite Moment: During this summer break, Audre must complete five challenges (put together by her friend Reshma) in an effort to come up with material for her book. I will not say what the fifth challenge is, but it is incredibly satisfying when Audre completes it.

Favorite Character: I am so pleased that Audre got her own book, as I know many readers are.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star.

Science Fiction: Infinite Archive by Mur Lafferty

As the third installment of The Midsolar Murders, Infinite Archive continues Mur Lafferty's story that follows Mallory Viridian, a human aboard a living space station that houses several other alien species. If that was not complicated enough, Mallory also has a habit of being present when someone gets murdered, and with a new ship scheduled to arrive, she is almost certain there will be another dead body soon.

The Situation: Mallory Viridian has received incredibly unwelcome news. Well, two pieces of unwelcome news, although they are related. Not only is there a ship heading towards Eternity that will bring with it an entire mystery fan convention, but her over-eager literary agent has signed her on to be the keynote speaker. Having to put together a keynote address is stressful enough, especially when she 1. does not want to, and 2. has no idea where to start. But typically, whenever Mallory is around a large number of humans, someone ends up dead. Sure, these situations have helped contribute to Mallory's success as a mystery writer, but she really wishes humans would stay away from Station Eternity.

The Problem: When the massive ship Metis arrives with the convention, things are already problematic. Before its arrival, Mallory has already had to deal with the appearance of chaotic Gneiss Queen Tina, who brought with her one alien species that has been known to be hostile, and a new creature that no human has ever met, and no one knows what it wants or what it is capable of. With a large group of wide-eyed humans scheduled to arrive, this new creature could cause issues. Despite everything, Mallory attends the convention, meeting other would-be writers, and even catching up her with her agent, Aaron. The situation is not completely ideal, but Mallory is hopeful, until the inevitable happens, and someone ends up dead.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the year 2047, and in the beginning the novel is set on Station Eternity, before moving over to the new ship, Metis. Characters from the previous two novels make their appearance, with Mallory's friend Xan once again being her most trusted companion. Stephanie once again proves helpful; Queen Tina is still a headache to deal with; and Mrs. Brown continues to refuse to deal with nonsense. This book brings up the issue of first contact, and how important it is for the human race to make the proper preparations before being confronted with a new species. But the murder quickly takes center focus, and Mallory must once again use her skills as a detective to solve it before more people are harmed.

My Verdict: The world that Lafferty has crafted continues to grow and become more immersive, while also not getting bogged down in the details and new characters, and new species. While Mallory is still anxious when around a group of humans (and for good reason), having her become a mystery writer makes perfect sense, and gives a wonderful direction for the story to go. The idea of a mystery fan convention is both fun and delightful, especially with the event taking place aboard a ship that is supposed to be a manifestation of the entire internet, and the added specifics regarding the struggle to become a published author. Sure, I still found myself confused by some of the plot points, and I often lost track of what species was doing what and why, and with whom, but I am still enjoying this science fiction series. 

Favorite Moment: There was something about Mallory's face-to-face interactions with her agent Aaron that delighted me, and I cannot quite figure out why. Perhaps it was something about his obvious desire and almost need for Mallory to write more. The demand for 'more content,' of any kind, has always fascinated me. 

Favorite Character: Once again, I want to say Mrs. Brown, but she disappears for a good amount of the story. Eve is interesting, and still a bit of a mystery by the end. I do hope she makes another appearance, if there are more books to come.

Recommended Reading: I know I have recommended this book several times before, I did thoroughly enjoy Erin Swan's Walk the Vanished Earth.

Contemporary Fiction: The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

In 2023, I absolutely fell in love with Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb, so of course, I did not hesitate to pick up his latest novel, The Dark Maestro. A young man with an incredible talent for the cello must put his life on hold due to his father's decisions. And it seems the only way he can return to his old life and do what he loves is to take incredible risks to bring the villains to justice.

The Situation: As a young boy, Curtis Wilson grows up in the projects of Washington, D.C. His small world includes his father Zippy, who says he always has his back, and his father's girlfriend Larissa, who has always been more of a mother to Curtis than his actual mom. When a program at school allows Curtis to pick an instrument to play, he settles on the cello, and it is discovered that the young man has an incredible talent, and may even be a prodigy. The young boy is soon obsessed, and continues to get better and better, using the cello as his main focus to get him through life in the projects, school bullies, and even his dad's brief time away in prison for drug dealing.

The Problem: After a dream performance with the New York Philharmonic, Curtis is made to leave right after (and I mean right after, as in he had just left the stage) with the FBI. Turns out Zippy had been working with some major underworld figures, and after providing authorities with crucial information, he, Curtis, and Larissa must all enter the witness protection program. It will be dangerous for Curtis to even bring his cello along, which means performing for even the smallest of audiences is completely out of the question. And after losing his patience with the officials, Curtis decides it may be time for him to perform his own investigation, under his own assumed identity, and get his life back.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set primarily in and around the D.C. area, though there are also quite a few crucial scenes in places like Phoenix and Costa Rica. At the center of the story is cello prodigy Curtis Wilson, but chapters switch between focusing on him, and Zippy, and Larissa. While Larissa wants to encourage Curtis' talent from the beginning, Zippy is initially annoyed, wishing his son was more interested in hip-hop than classical, and even wondering at what point can his son join him in the drug-dealing business. When Curtis can no longer perform due to being in the witness protection program, he feels as if he has lost his entire identity, but soon finds solace in the creation of a new superhero type character, using his long love of comic books as his inspiration.

My Verdict: From the beginning, when Curtis is a young boy simply trying to live his life in the projects of D.C, with a father who is attempting to rise in the ranks as a drug dealer, this book feels serious and heavy, and there is immediately so much at stake. And yet, when the witness protection part starts, it is still surprising, and heart-breaking, as Curtis' promising career as a cellist has to be put on hold. The thriller part of this mystery truly kicks into gear in the second half of the book, with everything from international travel, going undercover, even kidnapping, and eventually, the story begins to look a bit like the comic books Curtis has always loved. What I love about Slocumb's books is his unique plot lines, and never quite knowing where everything is headed, and this one will certainly once again keep readers on their toes.

Favorite Moment: I enjoyed watching Curtis in the early days of putting his comic book character together. Anyone who has embarked on a new and exciting project like that knows the feeling of grabbing hold of a compelling idea and working to bring it to life.

Favorite Character: Larissa supports Curtis no matter what, even during the times when she is not all that close to Zippy. She is committed to seeing the young man succeed and does everything she can to make sure he is taken care of.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Symphony of Secrets, but also Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson.

Historical Fiction: My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

After seeing the title of Isabel Allende's latest book, my curiosity was immediately piqued, as it appeared the novel would be tied to a previous one I had read just last year. My Name Is Emilia del Valle follows a young woman from her childhood in San Francisco, through the beginnings of her journalism career, and into the dangers of Chile's civil war. And yes, characters from some of Allende's previous celebrated novels do appear.

The Situation: In April of 1873, when Emilia del Valle turned seven years old, her mother dressed her up and took her to have her photo professionally taken. Her mother then sent the photograph to Chile to a man she says is Emilia's father. But for young Emilia, the man that her mother married and has now been with for many years is her true father. He is the one that would encourage and help her in getting her dime novels published, fostering a love of writing that would later result in a career in journalism, despite the field being dominated by men. When Chile appears to be on the brink of civil war, Emilia is sent to cover it, her boss wanting her to send back human interest pieces, while a colleague covers the war itself. But for Emilia, this trip has another purpose, and that is for her to find her father.

The Problem: With Emilia's fellow journalist, Eric, assigned to cover the events from the side of the rebels, Emilia does what she can to gain an audience with those close to the Chilean president, if not the man himself. Of course, being a woman and from the U.S. causes issues, but Emilia is fortunate to have met up with her great aunt, Paulina del Valle. Paulina may be abrupt, abrasive, and often offensive, but she has the connections Emilia needs, and is willing to help out the young woman who is looking for her father, while also trying to do her best journalism work. But when the war reaches its climax, Emilia will witness events she previously could have never imagined, and even finds herself being targeted by the rebels.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in the late 19th century. The first half of the novel takes place in and around San Francisco as Emilia is growing up, discovering her love of writing, and receiving wisdom and knowledge from her stepfather. When Emilia is sent to Chile, the country is about to experience a brutal and bloody civil war. The young journalist will see humanity at its worst, and most vulnerable, while also being injured herself. There is also the question of identity, as Emilia is not sure what a meeting with her real father will bring. And the inclusion of Paulina del Valle connects this book with both Daughter of Fortune and Portrait in Sepia.

My Verdict: As is common with many of Allende's books, this one follows a determined and head strong young woman as she insists on making her own way through life, entering a male-dominated profession, and even embarking on a trip to a country in the middle of an intense conflict. Anyone who has ever been warned against a desired path, or even outright denied it, due to reasons tied with gender, race, class, etc, will certainly relate to Emilia. Something I did not quite believe is the romance between Eric and Emilia, as its appearance feels sudden, and somewhat not earned. But Allende does not shy away from what happened in Chile in 1891, offering a history lesson alongside a story about identity and destiny.

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Emilia is brought face-to-face with her real father, she meets a man whose life of recklessness and frivolity has caught up with him, leaving him sick, frail, and full of regret. 

Favorite Character: If Paulina del Valle was my aunt, I would probably never want to visit her. However, she helps Emilia and is crucial to her achieving several of her goals, despite being very vocal in her opposition to them.

Recommended Reading: Allende's Daughter of Fortune is the first mention of Paulina del Valle, and a great introduction to the author's work.

Nonfiction: Searches by Vauhini Vara

If there is one topic that is currently nearly impossible to escape from, it is the discussion around artificial intelligence. Vauhini Vara's Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age leans into this, exploring the history, development, use, potential, and limitations of the technology, while also telling her own story as a journalist, editor, and sometimes user of AI.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book in which Vara begins by talking about her first experiences with the internet while at a friend's house as a kid. But before that, the books opens with the author conversing with ChatGPT, asking if it will give her feedback on book chapters that will eventually become part of the published product. This sets up what will continue to be a running theme of certain sections being a conversation between the author and the AI technology, with the latter often providing long and detailed notes on what Vara has presented, or a question that was asked. ChatGPT provides notes on chapters that evaluate the more problematic aspects of AI, big corporations, and even social media, with Vara at one point asking the application pointed questions, and pointing out what it got wrong. With a blend of memoir and journalism, Vara evaluates where we are with AI, and where we may be headed.

My Verdict: This is a fascinating and ambitious premise, with a novel approach to presenting information on something so many are already talking about. But somehow, the parts of this book that make it unique are also the parts I found to be the most cumbersome, and that is the sections that are simply large amounts of responses from ChatGPT. Its notes and feedback are often repetitive, boring, and hollow, and there are a lot of them throughout the book. The end of the book puzzles me as it is a collection of responses from a survey Vara sent out to women aged 18 and older, with questions on identity, family history, and of course, AI. Responses are seemingly copied and pasted, therefore amounting to another large section of the book that was not actually written by the author. 

Favorite Chapter: Chapter 8: "I Am Hungry to Talk," is about Vara's time in Madrid and her experience learning Spanish. But the entire chapter is presented in both English and Spanish, with the translations appearing side by side on the page. Vara first wrote the chapter in Spanish, and the English is what was presented by Google Translate.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, which features a story within the story about conflict between AI and its human creators. 

Contemporary Fiction: The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter

Author Andrew Porter was one of the many writers featured at this year's San Antonio Book Festival, and I was fortunate to be able to hear him talk about The Imagined Life, his novel that follows a man attempting to learn more about his father, in particular his current whereabouts, and what happened to him after he disappeared from his son's life. And while searching, the man also reflects on his childhood, and the events that lead up to his father's disappearance.

The Situation: As a grown man, Steven Mills finds himself separated from his wife, but also on a strange and somewhat sudden trip to look for his father, whom he has not seen since he was 12 years old. While looking for him, Steven also goes back in his memories to 1984, the year his father disappeared. It is also the year his father was denied tenure at St. Agnes, an event that, on the surface, seemed to be the catalyst for his father's leaving. But looking back, Steven will remember the parties his parents would throw around the pool in their backyard; some of the mysterious guests; his father's increasingly erratic behavior; the rumors; and the often persistent sense that something was about to go very very wrong.

The Problem: While Steven continues to remember the past, he is able to compare his memories with what he learns from the people he is able to interview, people who knew and worked with his father. Many of his father's associates are honest, but guarded, often willing to say just enough for Steven to have more questions instead of less. Even family members are not willing to reveal all of what they know, even though Steven is now an adult and no longer a kid. But he stays determined in searching for his father, or at least in finding out what happened to him, though the information may be unpleasant. And as he continues to search, and remember, it becomes clear that his father was complicated, as is what happened to him.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set both in 1984, and in present-day California. With Steven as the first-person narrator, the reader is given a first-hand account of late night pool parties that eventually became a source of anxiety and tension for Steven and his mother. As his father began to unravel, so did his relationship with Steven's mother, something that was made more complicated by the near-constant presence of one of the party guests. It is tempting to point to his father's issues at work as the main problem, but Steven must confront all of the factors, which includes mental health issues, and be honest about how the experience has shaped his own life. 

My Verdict: With more focus on characters and relationships, this book is a slow burn. And while things are certainly happening, the scenes and events are given ample time to breathe, with every line of dialogue, every glance, every action, and every decision seeming like it was carefully considered. The book may be less than 300 pages, but within it, the main character fully examines the last few months he was in contact with his father, while attempting to track him down in the present. It is a complex and intriguing and powerful narrative about a young man growing up with a parent who is going through something he does not quite understand, but the events will most certainly shape the rest of his life. 

Favorite Moment: Near the end of the book, Steven makes a declaration to one of his father's friends about the music he likes that is so striking and moving, but also sad, considering his experiences, and the story he had been telling up to that point. It is hard to explain without spoilers, but Steven's statement left me stunned.

Favorite Character: Steven's mother is not perfect, but she did her best, considering the circumstances. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, if only due to the reflective nature of both novels as the main characters look back and consider their relationship with someone close to them.

Nonfiction: Tequila Wars by Ted Genoways

Growing up, there was a period of my life, about nine years or so, when my father owned and operated a liquor store. Having bartended in his 20s, my father knew a lot about alcohol, alcohol sales, distribution, laws, etc. By proximity, I ended up learning a lot too, and would occasionally run the register at the store. And yes, it was strange for many of the patrons to walk up to the counter with their purchases and find a young girl standing there ready to ring them up. And despite not being much of a drinker now that I am an adult, I still hold on to a lot of that knowledge, which is what initially led me to look into Ted Genoways' Tequila Wars: José Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico, as the author was part of this year's San Antonio Book Festival. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly focuses on the life of José Cuervo, the man who inherited his family's distillery, and managed to nurture and cultivate it into the tequila empire we know the brand to be today. But as is detailed in Genoways' book, that growth did not come easily, as Cuervo's successes and setbacks were closely tied to the political turmoil of the country of Mexico during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As president's were elected to power, and then plotted to hold onto their positions despite the country's constitution not allowing for a president to be re-elected, leading to inevitable uprisings and rebellions, Cuervo had to be strategic about who he supported, ultimately needing to be sure that whoever was in charge would allow his empire to grow unbothered, and with few taxes. Little has been known about Cuervo, and while the general belief was that he was a nice man, but not terribly great at business, Genoways' account attempts to set the record straight.

My Verdict: This book not only gives the reader a lesson on Cuervo, but also on the disorder and unrest that was Mexico's politics during his lifetime. Specifically during the later chapters of the book, many pages will go by without any mention of Cuervo as the nation's political players literally go to war over who will hold key positions of power. Through thorough research, which includes accounts from Cuervo's niece, readers are given rare insight into the man whose name so many of us are familiar with, but little is known about. Even after reading this book, there is still an heir of mystery to the man, who clearly had to navigate a difficult landscape in order to keep his business afloat, and often also to keep himself and his family alive. Genoways offered a fascinating history, which may lead readers to do more research on their own.

Favorite Moment: The story of how Cuervo ended up marrying his wife Ana is pretty humorous, and attests to his careful and often hesitant nature when making big decisions.

Recommended Reading: For more nonfiction, I recommend Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein.