The Rules of Magicby Alice Hoffman
“Last week, I went on a trip with friends and wanted a good
airplane read to make the time f ly,” says Tammy French,
FIRST copy director. “I loved Hoffman’s Practical Magic,
so when I saw there was a prequel, I dove in!” Susanna
wants to keep her family’s history as witches from her three
children. To do this, they must follow her rules, the most
important: Never fall in love. But when the siblings visit
their aunt in Massachusetts, they discover old secrets—and
who they really are. Says Tammy, “The story was fascinating, heartbreaking
and...magical!” (Simon & Schuster, 2018; Paperback $16, Kindle $12, Nook $12)Fantasy
Surfside Sisters
by Nancy Thayer
“After being states
apart for years,
my best friend
just told me she’s
moving closer,”
shares Lauren
Blum, FIRST
assistant editor.
“I celebrated the news by reading
this book about friendship.” Novelist
Keely Green puts her life on hold and
heads back to her childhood home in
Nantucket for some R&R. Soon she
runs into old friends and old f lames.
Will her past help her find joy in the
future? “I loved this tale,” says Lauren.
“It doubled my gratitude for my
own friendship!” (Ballantine, 2019;
Hardcover $27, K ind le $14, Nook $14)The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women
Changes the World by Melinda Gates
“Sometimes social media reminds me of my shortcomings
more than anything else,” sighs Nancy Heller, FIRST copy
editor. “So I decided to unplug and pick up this inspiring read
by philanthropist Melinda Gates.” Gates shares stories about
the women she’s met around the world who’ve accomplished
so much with limited resources, and how empowering
women makes our world a better place. Says Nancy, “This gave me the confi-
dence boost I needed!” (Flatiron, 2019; Hardcover $27; Kindle $14, Nook $14)Inspirational nonfi ction
Women ’s fi ction
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
“When a summer
rainstorm kept me
inside, I picked up
this riveting book
to keep myself
entertained,” says
Rachel Cosma, FIRST senior health
editor. From the outside, Alicia and her
husband seem to have it all. But when
he’s found dead and Alicia is charged
with his murder, she stops speaking.
She’s put into a psychiatric facility
until psychotherapist Theo arrives to
try to unravel the puzzling murder.
“This plot had me guessing until the
last page,” says Rachel. “It was just
the ticket to carry me through until the
weather cleared up!” (Celadon, 2019;
Hardcover $27, Kindle, $14; Nook $14)Thriller
fun
loving now
GETT
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Carmen McGinnis“My victory was learning
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