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March 2021 book recs

3/1/2021

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We love keeping all of you up to speed on what our Beausoleil family is reading and recommending. From curated classics to celebrating Women's History Month, you can always find our picks through our affiliates Bookshop.org and Libro.fm. For all of our readers who like the feel of a book in their hands, and those who pop their headphones in to dive into a good read while folding laundry, we appreciate the desire to consume a good story and to be impacted by it, and we hope you will enjoy our choices for the month of March!
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And don't forget to follow us on social media for even more book recommendations throughout the month . . . 
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Spring 2021 Book du Mois Picks!

2/22/2021

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With each passing day we are getting closer and closer to hosting our Book du Mois Meeting in The Whisper Room! As soon as it is safe to do so, we will be opening our doors to you, but until then, we will continue cozying up at home with a drink and meeting via Zoom. Here's the scoop on our April, May, and June Book du Mois picks, and stay tuned for announcements about the Candle and Cocktail du Mois!
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​In April, we will explore Matt Haig's The Midnight Library. In this bestselling literary fiction novel, there exists a library that contains within its volumes all of your possible realities. This library can tell you what would have happened if you had gone to a different college, had not broken up with that old lover, or had the pancakes instead of the waffles for breakfast. Would you visit the library and get lost in its tomes? What if you could return to your reality after having researched all of your best possible outcomes, would you make different decisions? Nora, the protagonist of The Midnight Library, faces these questions, and we can't wait to see what decisions shape her life! We will meet to discuss The Midnight Library on Saturday, April 24 at 11am. 
Content Warnings: suicide, cancer, death, drugs, alcohol, depression

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In May, we will get to know the Vance family through J.D. Vance's memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. Vance tells the story of his childhood and his family history as he understands it, dismantling the façade of the American Dream as he does. This book is as much about a man escaping his upbringing as it is about honoring his origins. We will meet to discuss Hillbilly Elegy on Saturday, May 29 at 11am.

Content Warning: drug abuse, domestic abuse, death threats, suicide, alcoholism

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In June, we will experience Ocean Vuong’s seemingly autobiographical novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. Vuong’s protagonist, Little Dog, writes a letter to his mother, who cannot read or speak English, describing the events of his life with both compassion and brutal honestly. Vuong explores the realities of race, class, and masculinity as Little Dog struggles with domestic violence, drug abuse, and the inter-generational trauma of the Vietnam War. This coming of age novel reveals the power and joy of telling one’s own story, and is also a part of our Pride Month reading list that is coming soon. We will meet to discuss ​On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous on Saturday, June 26 at 11am. 

Content Warning: domestic abuse, drug addiction, homophobia, mental illness, violence, and depictions of war

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February Book and Cocktail du Mois!

2/15/2021

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Join us on Saturday, February 28, at 11 am via Zoom for a delicious discussion of The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. Although it is completely free, registration is required (check out the button below to register). The Office of Historical Corrections is a collection of short stories exploring human relationships and how the past haunts our present. We cannot wait until we can open up our Whisper Room doors, but until then our resident bartender, Alexis, has shared her perfect Cocktail du Mois that you all can make at home and sip with us! So check out the recipe, grab a copy of The Office of Historical Corrections in store or at either of the links below, and we can't wait to see you all on Saturday Feb 28!
 
Rêves De Chèvrefeuille (Honeysuckle Dreams)
1 Shot of Bayou Satsuma Rum, 1 oz St. Germain, 1 oz honey syrup, 1 oz lime juice, shaken and pour into martini glass, garnished with lime slice and half sugar rim.
It’s winter and what feels better after a long week of work, or a long week of not working, than cozying up with a good read and a delicious cocktail? The Office of Historical Corrections, gave us sweet, citrusy vibes and we’re running with it!
With winter’s surplus of citrus, and delicious satsumas growing in my entire neighborhood’s backyards, we were inspired to bring this month’s book flavors to life. What’s in this winter’s elixir? You have locally made (and absolutely delicious) Bayou Satsuma Rum, the iconic elderflower liqueur — St. Germain, fresh squeezed lime juice, and a dash of sweet, golden nectar otherwise known as honey. Give that a good shake with ice, pour into your most extravagant martini or coupe glass and viola! If you really want to take it to the next level, or you just enjoy being fancy, give your showy glass a sugar rim, and top your cocktail off with a slice of lime.
Bayou Satsuma Rum is the perfect base for a delicious, soul-warming cocktail. It adds a faintly sweet citrus to the creamy vanilla of Bayou’ silver rum. St. Germain brings the elegance. It’s pleasantly floral and sweet without being too sugary. Fresh squeezed lime juice, key words — fresh squeezed, gives the tartness any good cocktail deserves, and pairs beautifully with the honey syrup! Honey, in my humble opinion, is the best of the sweeteners! Mix equal parts honey and hot water, stir, and let it sit. Now you have yourself the perfect last touch for the Rêves De Chèvrefeuille!
This drink is perfect for that friend who “really wants to get into Rum but hasn’t found THE drink that turns them,” for that winter gathering you’re planning to host, or if you’re just looking for the cocktail that satisfies every inch of your pallet. This is the one! Try Honeysuckle Dreams and you’ll be dreaming about it for weeks!

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And the award goes to . . .

2/8/2021

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​Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
 
ZJ’s dad isn’t just ZJ’s hero, he’s everyone’s hero. As a professional football player, Zachariah Johnson is the star of the team, and at home, he’s the star of the neighborhood. ZJ and all of his friends love to hang out with Zachariah until one day, ZJ’s dad stops remembering things, like his own son’s name. He also becomes angry all the time and has headaches that keep him in bed all day. ZJ’s mom says his dad is sick because he hit his head so much playing football, but it is hard for ZJ to fully understand how his favorite sport, the one that made his dad so happy, could have caused this complete personality change.
 
Taking place in the early 2000’s when CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) was first acknowledged and researched, Before the Ever After shows the impacts of the professional football on the physical and mental health of a young black family. The story is told in verse and explores ZJ’s observations and feelings about how CTE has changed his family’s life. ZJ longs to go back to before his dad’s headaches, and creates several coping mechanisms to deal with his quasi-loss of a father. This book is heart-wrenching but beautiful as ZJ finds his new normal, relying on his friends that stick around even after his dad’s health declines.
 
I would recommend this book to all young readers and their parents. The book’s predominant theme is grief and coping, and may be a helpful tool for children experiencing a form of grief in their own lives. The story is filled with immeasurable love alongside the family’s hardships. Jacqueline Woodson was recently awarded the 2021 Coretta Scott King Book Award, and signed copies of Before the Ever After are currently in stock. 
 
Special Thanks to Libro.fm for allowing me to listen to a free copy of Before the Ever After.
 
-Endya
Follow Endya on Instagram and GoodReads to see more of what she is reading. If you'd like to read Before the Ever After and support Beausoleil Books, use the buttons below to purchase through the Bookshop.org and Libro.fm affiliate programs:

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Our Favorite reads of 2020 . . .

12/27/2020

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Blair and Endya's favorite books read in 2020. Despite the stress of this year, we read some pretty good books along the way. 
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
This book pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go! I am still thinking about these characters and how they will be affecting me for years to come. -Endya


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In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
This was one of the best books I’ve read this year, both in terms of content and execution. Machado tells the auto-biographical story of an abusive same-sex relationship, and each chapter tells the story in a different genre. Seeing how the genres lined up with the events of the story was breathtaking. -Endya

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Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
This Bridget Jones’s Diary-esque LGBTQ+ romance follows an astrologer and actuary who pretend to be in love . . . until they’re no longer pretending. It’s equal parts hilarious and romantic. I could not praise it enough. -Blair

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Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump
This book was eye-opening, to say the least. -Endya

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Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
 -Blair

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
SO SPOOKY! Check out my full review in an earlier blog post.
​-Endya 

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Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen
This book made me hurt for teenage years I never had. This is an LGBTQ+ coming of age teenage love story about discovering yourself and loving the people around you. -Blair

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Luster by Raven Leilani
This book was addicting. Check out my full review in an earlier blog post. -Endya

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The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm
by Hilarie Burton Morgan

Hello One Tree Hill fans! Hillarie Burton, known for her character, Peyton Sawyer, gave up the big city for a rural farm with her husband and son. She goes into detail about her deep love for her family and the community they created when she escaped a toxic work environment on a well known teenage drama. -Blair

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What Comes After by Blair Leigh
Ok, I know this was written by my business partner and close friend, but I can’t help that this was one of my favorites to be published this year! This book has such warm and cozy Gilmore Girls vibes, and I can’t help but want to snuggle up with it on a cold night. -Endya

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Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
This book is required reading for anyone who has a vagina or is interested in vaginas. Nagoski busts every sex myth that Cosmo Magazine taught us in high school. (PS a revised edition is set for publishing in March 2021!) -Blair & Endya

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Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan
This second chance romance between childhood sweethearts follow Kimba, a successful career woman, and Ezra, the man she lost when family secrets boiled over and ruined lifelong friendships. It’s steamy, achingly sweet, and a can’t-sleep-until-I-finish-page-turner. - Blair

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Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Faith and science are two huge eements in this beautiful novel by one of my favorite writers. As neuroscientist, Gifty, tried to find the scientific basis for her brother’s drug addiction and her mother’s severe depression, she finds herself struggling with the evangelical faith she was raised on. This book felt personal to me and it stayed on my mind long after I finished it. -Blair

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A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
This is the sequel to Green’s debut, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, and it did not disappoint. I loved the first book, but this one brought everything together in such a satisfying ending. Green’s thoughts on modern technology and social media have created a fun and insightful young adult sci-fi journey that I think readers of any age could enjoy. (PS The Audiobook has a full cast!) -Endya

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The Roommate by Rosie Danan
Uptight Clara moves across the country to live with her childhood crush and start a new life. But her childhood crush ditches her last minutes and leaves her with a new roommate—Josh, an adult performer. As they both try to reinvent themselves, they can’t stop their growing attraction. This book was impossible to put down. Sexy, smart, and respectful. -Blair

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 I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde
I don’t usually read many children’s books, but this one absolutely blew me away. With so many books teaching children how to be nicer or smarter or cleaner or more creative, this book’s message is that it is ok to be just you. It is ok to mess up; it is ok to be afraid; it is ok. We are all humans just trying our best. I found it so refreshing, and will be buying it for kids for years to come! -Endya

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Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
Wow. This book is a detailed study of a midcentury American family of 12 kids. One by one, half of the children become diagnosed with schizophrenia. This book is nonfiction but the storytelling and character development reads so much like fiction. -Blair

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Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Dani and Zaf go viral when he “saves” her from a fire drill. To direct more media to Zaf’s charity, they keep up the façade that they are madly in love for the public. Of course, it’s a romance, so they also end up madly in love for real. I am so in love with this love story, and I’m not sure any other book will ever live up to this one. Both of these characters are flawed yet absolutely perfect for each other, and I would marry either of them in an instant. -Endya

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How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
This was such an important read for white allies and, honestly, for everyone. This book is not to be read quickly. Read slowly and reflect and contemplate on the actions you’ve taken to combat racism. -Blair

Follow Blair and Endya on GoodReads to see more of what they are reading. If you’d like to read any of the books we listed and support Beausoleil Books, just click the photos to purchase through the Bookshop.org affiliate program. We are looking forward to a great 2021!
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Winter 2021 Book du Mois Lineup

12/20/2020

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​Owners Blair and Endya have been having so much fun at our monthly Book du Mois Club meetings, and we are excited to start announcing our book picks quarterly so all of us have a ton of time to read and plan around the Book du Mois club date! So here’s our Winter 2021 Lineup:
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​In January, we will explore a new thriller that has been topping the bestselling charts: When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole. In this book, Cole looks at gentrification and its racists roots and imagines this process at its extreme. This book has been described as “Get Out” meets “Rear Window” and we can’t wait to see how uncomfortable this psychological thriller can make us! January’s Book du Mois Club meeting will take place via Zoom on January 30 at 4pm. Use the buttons below to register and buy the book and/or audiobook, or stop by the store and pick up a copy!

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In February, we will switch format to a novella/short story series that has been making waves: The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. Evans has been applauded by many for her unique and insightful voice. In this novella series, she tells short stories in the lives of her characters that each speak to a greater historical, cultural, and racial issue. Although these stories are fiction, we expect Evans can provide an interesting perspective on American history this Black History Month. February’s Book du Mois Club meeting will be on February 27 at 4pm. We have not yet decided whether the event will be via Zoom or in person in The Whisper Room, so stay tuned for that announcement! Use the buttons below to buy the book and/or audiobook, or stop by the store and pick up a copy!

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In March, we will venture into new sci-fi territory with Jeff Vandermeer’s acclaimed Annihilation. In this book, Area X has been cut-off from the rest of the world for decades, and with each planned expedition into the territory, stranger and stranger things are happening to the explorers. Vandermeer takes us on the latest expedition with an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist, and our narrator, a biologist, to discover not only the strange things lurking in Area X, but also the strange secrets these explorers bring with them. March’s Book du Mois Club meeting will be on March 27 at 4pm. We have not yet decided whether the event will be via Zoom or in person in The Whisper Room, so stay tuned for that announcement! Use the buttons below to buy the book and/or audiobook, or stop by the store and pick up a copy!

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how to keep your head above water . . .

12/13/2020

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Swimming Lessons by Lili Reinhart
​Swimming Lessons, Reinhart’s first poetry collection, explores themes of heartache, depression, and belonging. Reinhart opens with an introduction explaining her inspiration to give words to feelings, in the hopes that people with similar feelings may feel less alone. Reinhart’s free verse style is unassuming. The poems are short and simple yet expressed complex emotions that are difficult to describe. The collection was quite literal and didn’t depend heavily on metaphor or imagery, making them accessible to those who may not enjoy classical styles of poetry. I was able to listen to the audio version, narrated by the author, and there was a sense of deep intimacy in the work as Reinhart smoothly transitioned from one poem to the next.The poems read as stream of consciousness journal entries, so fans of Rupi Kaur would enjoy this collection.

The poems reflect privileges that the author enjoys, thus topics regarding race and class are not present. I would recommend this collection to adult and teen readers that can handle descriptions of depression and anxiety, and are unbothered by less structured forms of poetry.

Special thanks to our friends at Libro.fm, who provided a copy of Swimming Lessons for me to listen to.
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-Endya
Follow Endya on Instagram and GoodReads to see more of what she is reading. If you’d like to read Swimming Lessons and support Beausoleil Books, use the buttons below to purchase through the Bookshop.org and Libro.fm affiliate programs:

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America has many faces...

11/29/2020

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This is My America by Kim Johnson
​Seven years ago, Tracy Beaumont’s father was sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. Each week, Tracy writes a letter to Innocence X pleading to their appeals department to review her father’s case. With only about 200 days left until her father’s scheduled execution, Tracy, her mother, her younger sister, and her older brother are losing hope that they can save their patriarch. Then, another person in their town is murdered, and Tracy’s brother, Jamal, is accused. Jamal did not kill Angela, but he has run away from home to escape arrest and attempt to find her actual killer. With two accused murderers in the family, the entire south Texas town begins to turn away from Tracy’s family to avoid being targeted by the local white nationalist groups. With the clock ticking on both her father and brother, Tracy is determined to prove their innocence and bring justice to her family and the families of the murder victims.

This is My America depicts the effects of police brutality and corrupt prosecution practices in America. Although there are similar Young Adult books tackling racism and police brutality, This is My America distinguishes itself by focusing on the emotional, physical, and financial impact of mass incarceration on the Black family. Johnson shows how the KKK is not a piece of history long-gone, but is an organization continuing to hunt down and torture Americans of color. Johnson explores generational trauma and the danger of being complicit mainly from the perspective of Tracy’s Black family, but also touches on the generational trauma of being a raised to be a racist and the danger of being complicit in that role. These parallel stories of the white and Black family are thought provoking, without centering the white narrative. Along with the personal struggles explored throughout the book, the plot includes a mystery element as Tracy investigates who the real murderers are.
I was able to listen to this book on Libro.fm, and it is narrated by Bahni Turpin, one of my favorite narrators! Turpin brings such life to each of the characters in her narrations, and this book was no different. I would recommend this book (especially the audiobook!) to young adults and adults that can handle content including police encounters, off the page murder, off the page lynching, racism, Black trauma, hate crimes, and police shooting.
-Endya
Follow Endya on Instagram and GoodReads to see more of what she is reading. If you'd like to read This is My America and support Beausoleil Books, use the buttons below to purchase through the Bookshop.org and Libro.fm affiliate programs:

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December Book du mois is . . .

11/22/2020

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November’s Book du Mois was such a success! We are so happy with the response for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. For December, we’re bringing you a holiday romance that will sweep you right off your feet! Released in October 2020, In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren is a mistletoe kiss on a wintry night. 

The elevator pitch: “Mae is stuck in a time loop, repeating the same holiday week with the same wonderful people, and the same two brothers she’s known all her life. One she’s been in love with for thirteen years and one … she accidentally drunkenly made out with the night before she was stuck in the never-ending Groundhog Day loop. So, why? Why is Mae stuck? And how does she get out so she can spend forever with her true love?”

Our Book du Mois Club to discuss In a Holidaze will be on Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. But that’s not all!!! The most exciting news of all: Authors, Christina and Lauren, will be joining via Zoom to discuss their novel with us! Our meeting begins and 5:30 and they will hop on at 6:00! Please, email us questions you have for the authors before the meeting to blair@beausoleilbooks.com. We are so excited! 

Click the button below to register for the event (the event is FREE, but requires registration), and get your copy of In a Holidaze in store, online, via Bookshop, or via Libro.fm.

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Gearing up for "one last stop" . . .

11/15/2020

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Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
First Son of the United States Alex Claremont-Diaz is the perfect everything: hard-working student, gorgeous young bachelor, and the future youngest-person-ever-to-be-voted-to-Congress. His seemingly only flaw? He can’t stand Prince Henry of Wales, basically his equally-perfect counterpart of British royalty. When Alex and Prince Henry come to blows in a news-worthy embarrassing photo-op, the White House and the royal family take quick steps to fix things. What begins as an international PR plan to cover up the bad blood between these rival golden boys quickly becomes something more real than either Alex or Henry could have imagined.


Red, White, & Royal Blue is the queer relationship comedy novel I never knew I wanted as a teenager. Heck, it’s the novel I didn’t even know I wanted as an adult! The enemies-to-friends plot induces a giddiness and a warmth that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. And, the narrative style and the plot itself is reminiscent of the young-adult books I read and loved so much when I was a kid; like The Princess Diaries or well...I mean anything Meg Cabot wrote, really. But, what is exceptionally stunning about McQuiston’s book is the characters. Alex and Henry are (on the shiny, media-friendly surface) the kinds of policy-making, world-changing twenty-somethings we all hope to be. But, as they get to know each other better, we learn that they’re actually just as anxious and self-conscious as we all are.

Though the general vibe of this book reminds me of a young-adult story, the slightly older age range of the characters makes this a book for, I think, a slightly older audience, or a young-adult audience that’s ready for some steamy moments. There’s definitely some sexy scenes in this novel, and they’re treated with respect for consent and open communication, so yay! In Red, White, & Royal Blue, McQuiston covers the more personal topics—like intimacy and coming out—in equal measure with the heavy hitters—like politics and international relations—all wrapped up in a page-turner that will have you wanting to re-read it as soon as you’ve finished. 

-Isabelle
Isabelle Lang has moved from the bayou to the dessert and back again, and holds a BA and MA from Mississippi State University, as well as an MFA in poetry from UNR. Her work has appeared in Beecher’s Magazine, The Meadow, and elsewhere. She currently teaches writing in West Baton Rouge.

If you'd like to read Red, White & Royal Blue and support Beausoleil Books, use the buttons below to purchase through the Bookshop.org and Libro.fm affiliate programs. Also get excited for Casey McQuiston's second book One Last Stop, coming out in June 2021!

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    Jefferson Street Journal is Beausoleil Books's online blog for book reviews, news, and more! 

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