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This novel may be short but it packs a punch. Set in rural Ireland in the 80s, Small Things Like These (2021) is an inspirational read about the struggles of the poor and working-class Irish.

A wonderful series for fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

Need a well-written story full of secret plots, ancient magics, and scheming politicians while you wait for the next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series? Or perhaps you just finished the Mistborn trilogy and crave another high adventure fantasy?

You have to listen to this book. Written and narrated by professional audiobook narrator Julia Whelan, Thank You for Listening (2022) is best on audio for an immersive experience. Filled with witty banter and a variety of voices, this uplifting romantic comedy is sure to boost your mood.

In an unnamed city, Nadia and Saeed meet and fall in love. As a civil war erupts around them, they flee their homeland. Author Mohsin Hamid uses doors as a way to transport people from one destination to the next, infusing the novel with a hint of magical realism. Exit West (2017) is a contemporary bittersweet love story and a war story from the refugee perspective.

What happens to the places ruined and left desolate by humans? Investigative journalist Cal Flyn travels around the world to find out. Focusing on the outrageous damage we have sustained on our world may seem to make for depressing reading, but Islands of Abandonment (2021) is surprisingly uplifting.

Why bother with people when you could have the perfect companion? In a world where personal computers (or persocoms) have been given human form, that is the question that Chobits - the beautifully drawn, thought-provoking science fiction story by CLAMP - explores.

I have never cared deeply or felt great compassion for a robot. Until now.

An engrossing historical romance featuring spies during the American Civil War. Born into slavery, Elle Burns is now a free woman. In 1862, she goes undercover, working as a slave in the household of a Confederate senator in Richmond, Virginia. She meets Pinkerton Secret Service Agent Malcolm McCall, a Scottish immigrant, and the pair form an uneasy alliance. As their relationship (both professional and personal) grows, Elle and Malcolm must navigate the uneasy world of race, politics, and war. 

The Big Flower Fight (2020) is a British reality show in which teams of florists, artists, and garden designers compete to create stunningly ambitious sculptures matching the theme of each episode. Some of the challenges the contestants face include making a giant throne using only edible plants, making a dress entirely out of flowers, and recreating a scene from a fairytale.

A book for book lovers! Theo Fumis loves books, but because he lives in the slums, the town librarian refuses to let him borrow books or even set foot inside the library. That doesn't stop him from sneaking in to read them though! Due to his mixed ancestry, easily apparent by his pointed ears and blonde hair, Theo is shunned by nearly all of the town's residence, and books are his only escape from his harsh life. A life he dreams of leaving behind by becoming a kafna.

Looking for a dark, yet quirky fantasy quest? Look no further. Nettle and Bone (2022) delivers with the story of Marra, a princess determined to save her sister from an abusive marriage. Of course she needs help on her quest and help comes in the form of a dust-wife (a witch who can speak to the dead), a dog made of bones, an honorable knight saved from goblins, a fairy godmother with dubious talents and a demon possessed chicken.