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This series follows the lives of a group of students at the Chestnut Hill School for Horses in Virginia. The main character, Stevie Lake, is a young girl who dreams of becoming a champion equestrian. Along with her friends, Carole Hanson and Lisa Atwood, Stevie learns about friendship, responsibility, and the love of horses as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.
Jodi Picoult
The Pact
This book tells the story of two childhood friends, Chris and Emily, who make a pact to marry each other if they are still single by the time they are 30. However, when they are teenagers, Chris's father dies, and he turns to Emily for comfort. Their relationship deepens, and they end up having sex. When Emily becomes pregnant, they decide to get an abortion, but Chris's traditional father finds out and forbids it. Emily goes through with the abortion anyway, and Chris, feeling betrayed, ends their friendship. Years later, they reconnect and must confront their past and the choices they made.
Learn MoreSue Monk Kidd
The Secret Life of Bees
This novel is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Lily, a 14-year-old girl who runs away from her abusive father with her black nanny, Rosaleen. They find refuge in a small town with three beekeeping sisters, who teach Lily about bees, love, and forgiveness. Lily also learns about the power of female friendship and the importance of standing up for what is right.
Learn MoreNicholas Evans
The Horse Whisperer
This book tells the story of a young girl named Grace, who is in a horrific riding accident that leaves her and her horse, Pilgrim, severely injured. In an effort to save Pilgrim and help Grace heal, her mother, Annie, takes her to Montana to meet a horse trainer named Tom Booker, who is known as a 'horse whisperer' because of his ability to communicate with and heal troubled horses. Through Tom's guidance, Grace and Pilgrim begin to heal, and Annie and Tom develop a deep connection.
Learn MoreKathryn Stockett
The Help
This novel is set in the 1960s in Mississippi and tells the story of a young white woman, Skeeter, who returns home after graduating from college and becomes interested in the lives of the black maids who work for her friends' families. She decides to write a book from the maids' perspectives, giving them a voice and exposing the racism and inequality they face. The book becomes a sensation, but it also puts Skeeter and the maids in danger.
Learn MoreJenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty
This novel tells the story of Belly, a 15-year-old girl who spends every summer at her family's beach house with her mother and brother. For years, Belly has had a crush on her best friend's older brother, Conrad, but he has never seemed to notice her. This summer, however, things are different. Conrad starts paying attention to Belly, and they begin a secret romance. But their relationship is complicated by the fact that Belly's other best friend, Jeremiah, also has feelings for her. As Belly navigates her feelings for both boys, she learns about love, friendship, and growing up.
Learn MoreVanessa Diffenbaugh
The Language of Flowers
This novel tells the story of Victoria, a young woman who has spent most of her life in foster care. As a child, she discovered the language of flowers, and she has used it as a way to communicate her emotions and feelings. When she turns 18, she is emancipated from foster care and must learn to navigate the world on her own. She gets a job at a flower shop, where she meets a
Learn MoreM.L. Stedman
The Light Between Oceans
This novel is set in Australia in the 1920s and tells the story of Tom, a lighthouse keeper, and his wife, Isabel, who live on a remote island. After several miscarriages, Isabel is desperate to have a child, and when a baby washes up on shore in a boat, they decide to keep her and raise her as their own. However, their decision has consequences that ripple out and affect the lives of others, including a woman who has lost her husband and child. As Tom and Isabel grapple with their guilt and the consequences of their actions, they must confront the moral complexities of their decision.
Learn MoreThrity Umrigar
The Space Between Us
This novel tells the story of Bhima, a widowed maid who has worked for the same wealthy family for more than 20 years. When her employer, Sera, falls on hard times, Bhima offers her a place to stay. As the two women live together, they form an unlikely friendship and learn to see each other as equals. However, their friendship is threatened by the secrets they keep and the class differences that separate them. Through their relationship, the novel explores themes of poverty, class, and the power of female friendship.
Learn MoreSarah Addison Allen
The Peach Keeper
This novel is set in a small town in North Carolina and tells the story of Willa, a young woman who returns home after her father's death. She becomes involved in the restoration of an old mansion, which brings her into contact with the wealthy and eccentric Waverley family. As she delves into the history of the mansion, she uncovers secrets that have been buried for generations. Through her journey, the novel explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of secrets to shape our lives.
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