No Pressure Book Club

 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by SA Chakraborty

A last job, a final quest for money and glory, but things are not what they seem. Plunge into a world of pirates, magic, mysterious artefacts and the high seas in this historical fantasy where one woman seeks to make her own legend.

 

 

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A young girl must make sacrifices to save her family as an old evil awakens. Reading like a folktale by the brothers Grimm, this historical fantasy set deep in the frigid Russian wilderness is for those who believe in the power of kindness.

 

 

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Lee Mi-ye

A dream job – literally. This is a charming and thoughtful translated novel from South Korea that delves into a contemporary fantasy world of dreams and the store that sells them.

 

 

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Knowledge can be deadly; acquiring it, even more so. For fans of snarky protagonists, this book combines the intensity and deadliness of The Hunger Games with the magic of Harry Potter.

 

 

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Magic has a way of messing everything up. Dive into a contemporary fantasy for those with a love for paranormal romance, magic, and mystery books.

 

 

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

A thrilling and educational tale about a Cambridge professor determined to be an expert in all things faerie; this book sits somewhere between magical realism, historical fiction, and romance. Perfect for readers who enjoy smart, stubborn heroines and hopelessly pining heroes.

 

 

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Rooted in humor and kindness in equal measure this romantasy is for those looking for a cozy read about finding love and second chances.

 

 

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons who wonder what happens after adventurers save the day. This is as cozy as cozy fantasy comes; with generous portions of found family, sweet pastries, redemption and acceptance.

 

 

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

An epic fantasy told from multiple perspectives, this story fits perfectly alongside greats like The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire. It has everything you’d expect from Fantasy: dragons, magic, knights, and a sprawling, unfamiliar world harboring long hidden secrets.

 

 

The River has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

This enchanting novella about sisters, magic, and a small town on the border of Faerie, offers a quick introduction to the genre for new fantasy readers.

 

 

Behind Enemy Bylines by Kathleen Fuller

Opposites attract in this newsworthy romance. Two rivals, a journalist for a small-town newspaper and a marketing executive, must learn to play nice amidst major shifts in the newspaper industry during the mid-2000s.

 

 

The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson

Love might be just next door – if you don’t go crazy first. In this charming romance, two neighbors who do not like one another find themselves in a prank competition, each trying to be the first to push the other over the edge. But as the pranks escalate, so does the attraction.

 

 

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

Hana Khan's family-run halal restaurant is on the verge of closing, especially when a flashy competitor—owned by an attractive young man—readies to open nearby. Seeking advice, she turns to her anonymously hosted podcast, and her close relationship with one of the listeners, who might be the last person she’d want to confide in. Inspired by the movie You’ve Got Mail; this romance adds complexity with the heroine and hero handling prejudice as well as their competing restaurants.

 

 

Me for You by Lolly Winston

Widower Rudy is struggling with the death of his beloved wife. 10 months after the incident, he’s only just beginning to find joy as a piano player for Nordstrom. When Sasha catches his eye, he’s struck with the possibility of love, but new details surrounding his wife’s death, problems within his daughter’s marriage, and the reappearance of Sasha’s husband might complicate things.

 

 

Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto

All at once a coming-of-age tale, romance, and family epic, this novel centers on Magnolia as she tells her granddaughter Izzy all about moving to a new country, growing up feeling different, being at odds with her family and culture, and ultimately falling in love with the “wrong” person. Seeing parallels between herself and her grandmother, Izzy slowly finds the confidence to live and love authentically.

 

 

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

It’s hard finding love in a small town where you know everyone, and harder still when your last date called you “boring.” Fake dating takes a turn for something real in this sweet romance about a young woman determined to change and the bad-boy she enlists to help make her romance dreams come true.

 

 

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

An aspiring writer jumps at the chance to rewrite a rom-com movie script with a famous screenwriter. But he doesn't care about the script except as a means to greenlight another project, and thinks love is a big scheme. She’s determined to prove him wrong, and they might just end up writing more than just a fictional love story.

 

 

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

For those who want something a little more exciting, this historical romantic suspense novel brings an edge of danger to an otherwise swoon-worthy romance. Miss Euphemia Flite has a mission: infiltrate the inner circle of a nasty viscount and bring him down. Criminal Gabriel Royce needs the viscount to secure his underworld empire, and he won’t let anyone disrupt his plans, no matter how alluring he finds them.

 

 

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

A beyond-the-grave romance scheme only a grandmother could concoct. Gram has left her charming bookshop to her granddaughter, Shelby, but also the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago. Forced to work together, old feelings begin to resurface, and long-held grudges are challenged in this second-chance romance.

 

 

Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden

A U.S. Marshall goes undercover in a small town to learn more about threats made to his life—and teams up with the sheriff’s beautiful daughter in the process—in this western romance. Liesl is desperate to save her family and town. With no one else to turn to, she puts her life and her heart in the hands of Hawk, undertaking a dangerous plan in hopes of putting criminals away for good.