5 Books…. That Kept Me Up at Night!

We kicked off a new book talk video series over on our Instagram! Eugenia started it with 5 Books… that kept her up at night. Check out the videos here, and read some excerpts from her list below!

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrande

Eugenia loves this young adult novel that she identifies as a “mix of magical realism and horror” with “haunting imagery” that will stick with her for the rest of her days. This story is set on Sawkill Rock, a mysterious island where girls have been disappearing for decades… it’s not ’til now when three not-so-ordinary young women come together to solve the (terrifying) puzzle! Not for the faint of heart.

Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi

A sucker for a great romance, Eugenia loves this story about Penny and Sam, who meet and quickly become each other’s emergency contacts. They start texting day and night, revealing all of their deepest darkest secrets and desires. Eugenia notes Choi’s “whip-smart, witty” writing that keeps the story modern and fresh, and loves that their story takes place in Austin, Texas!

In The Woods by Tana French

If you know Eugenia, you know she LOOOOOVES Tana French! And In The Woods is the book that started it all. The first book in French’s renowned Dublin Murder Squad series, this is a great example of her “layered, detail writing” that goes into building her “complex, human psychological thrillers.”

The Wedding Date by Jamine Guillory

Similarly to Tana French, Eugenia will read anything written by Jasmine Guillory! Guillory’s debut novel, The Wedding Date, tells the story of Drew and Alexa who meet in a hotel elevator and immediately hit it off. Drew ends up inviting Alexa as his plus one to his ex’s wedding and…. fun, sexy escapism ensues!

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Quite different from the other titles on her list, A Little Life left a mark in Eugenia, enough that she still thinks about this book even four years after reading it. Yanagihara paints a “deeply intimate, moving, and often painful” picture of these four friends who meet in college… A powerful, unforgettable story.