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Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite
by Cheryl MendelsonFrom the bestselling author of Home Comforts comes the story of our wedding vows—what they mean and why they still matter.In the West, marrying is so thoroughly identified with ceremonial promises that &“taking vows&” is a synonym for getting married. So, it&’s a surprise to realize that this custom is actually a historical and anthropological oddity. Most of the world, for most of history, married without making promises. And there&’s a reason for that. Marriage by vow presupposes free choice, and free choice makes a love-match possible. It is a very modern arrangement. Vows is both a moving memoir of two marriages and a thoughtful meditation on marriage itself. Cheryl Mendelson tackles the sociology of commitment through our most traditional promises and shows why they endure. In considering the kind of marriage these vows entail, she helps answer some of life&’s most urgent and personal of questions: Could I, would I, or should I make these promises to someone? Using history and literature, the book describes the parameters of the behavior that traditional vows promise and, in doing so, answers a whole series of other questions: Why did wedding-by-vow arise only in the West? Why are they recited in weddings around the world today? Why have these vows lasted for nearly a thousand years? Why does the kind of marriage promised in the vows survive?
Write Your Story: A Simple Framework to Understand Yourself, Your Story, and Your Purpose in the World
by Allison FallonAllison Fallon&’s Write Your Story provides a simple framework that will help readers capture, in writing, the depth of life events and, in turn, to make sense of their lives.Once you understand yourself and your life, you will live with more purpose and confidence. We&’ve all spent seasons reacting to the world around us, as though the world were telling a story and we were simply the audience, bystanders watching it all happen. The result: a life of regret and a feeling that we missed our purpose. Author Allison Fallon has led thousands of people just like you to find greater meaning by helping them write their story. She&’s witnessed the phenomenon of a person stepping back, analyzing their life, and realizing what they&’re good at and what they are not, the types of people who hurt them and those who help, and the things that provide satisfaction and what leaves them empty. And in all this, they find their purpose. They find their story. When you know your story, you know who you are and why you matter. You understand the many ways you can help others, and you develop a resilience over pain that can make you unstoppable. Allison&’s simple formula will help you process your life and get your whole story down—in only five pages! This isn&’t a formula to teach you to write a book (although the exercises may lead to that), but it will help you understand yourself, your story, and your purpose. We will never know who we are until we know our story. And we will never know our story until we take time to write it down. So let&’s begin.
Out of the Gray, into the Light: A Mother Stands Up for Her Daughter and Herself in a Fight for Survival—A Memoir of Advocacy and Hope
by Amy PostAmy Post&’s Out of the Gray, into the Light is a gut-wrenching story of parental helplessness following their daugther&’s diagnosis of malignant liver cancer, and it shares the raw, unfiltered emotions of a family suddenly sucked into a healthcare system that often leaves weakened patients to stand silent and alone, in desperate need of an advocate.&“Now I know what it is to advocate for someone, to put everything I have into something outside of myself.&” —Amy Post &“Your daughter has malignant liver cancer.&” For Amy Post and her family, the doctor&’s words shook their world and changed the trajectory of their lives forever. When Amy received a call from her children&’s school telling her that her daughter wasn&’t playing but was instead sitting down on the playground, her mind went into high alert. For months, she&’d had a nagging suspicion that something wasn&’t right with her three-year-old. Exhaustion, random fevers, and now this. Amy and her husband were not prepared, though, for the devastating diagnosis. Nor were they ready for the unveiling of a rare gene that promised not one, but three devastating forms of cancer throughout their child&’s life—if she survived this one. In her book, Amy Post shares the raw, unfiltered emotions of a family suddenly sucked into a healthcare system that runs as a machine but often leaves weakened patients to stand silent and alone and in desperate need of an advocate. It&’s a gut-wrenching story of parental helplessness that grows into a mother&’s determination and fierce fight for survival for her daughter—and then for herself.
High Road Leadership: Bringing People Together in a World That Divides
by John C. MaxwellLeadership can be a blessing or a curse. It can help people rise up to a better life, or it can cause people to fall into despair. Become part of the solution by becoming a high-road leader.The world&’s most influential leadership expert, John C. Maxwell, tackles the problem of our divided world in his latest book High Road Leadership. &“Everything rises and falls on leadership,&” says Maxwell. &“Today it is causing people to fall—into disputes, frustration, anger, and despair. His solution is to expose the problems of taking the low and middle roads when interacting with others and teach people how to instead take the high road. Leaders who practice high road leadership value all people, do the right things for the right reasons, take accountability for their actions, and place people above their own agenda. In his trademark communication style, Maxwell teaches the principles and practices of high-road leadership that can increase anyone&’s influence and help them make their world a better place.
Vandals: The Photography of The Bikeriders
by Insight EditionsEmbark on a remarkable visual journey into the creation of Jeff Nichols&’s The Bikeriders with this unforgettable collection of exclusive photography from the film&’s set.Inspired by Danny Lyon&’s seminal 1968 book, The Bikeriders, this powerful drama from director Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special, Mud) follows the rise and fall of a midwestern motorcycle club. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, Michael Shannon, and Boyd Holbrook, Nichols&’s film is an evocative snapshot of a renegade era. This book features exclusive photography from the set, plus commentary from the director and his cast and crew. NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN IMAGERY: Go behind the scenes of The Bikeriders with exclusive photography. ACCLAIMED CAST: The book features imagery of the film&’s stellar cast, which includes Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Austin Butler (Elvis), and Tom Hardy (Venom). INTERVIEWS WITH CREATORS AND CAST: Dive into the creation of the film through exclusive interviews with Jeff Nichols, his crew, and the film&’s cast.
The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot #3)
by Peter BrownThe action-packed third installment in Peter Brown's internationally bestselling The Wild Robot series takes Roz on an under-the-ocean journey to save her beloved island! Life for Roz and the animals on their island is perfect: wild, natural, harmonious. Her son Brightbill has even found a mate! But then, one day an injured seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing toward the island—and soon the animals are forced inland to fight over dwindling resources. Roz calms and organizes the animals, but the poison tide takes a terrible toll on the island. And when the robot discovers that her new body is waterproof, she marches into the waves and sets out across the ocean, determined to stop the poison tide. During her undersea journey, Roz encounters amazing geological formations and incredible creatures, and she sees the devastation caused by the toxic waters. Creatures she meets along the way direct her to a mysterious character known as the Ancient Shark, who explains that the poison tide is caused by a huge station that floats on the waves; a station operated by humans and by robots. To stop them, the Ancient Shark is prepared to attack with an army of sea creatures. However, Roz hopes to find a peaceful solution, instead. Can the wild robot save the ocean and her island and everything she loves? This thrilling third installment of the Wild Robot series takes readers on a new adventure under the ocean and to the frigid northern waters where Roz may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects: 76 Useful Things You Can Build to Create Customized Working Spaces and Storage Facilities, Equip the Garden, Store the Harvest, House Your Animals, and Make Practical Outdoor Furniture (Backyard Homestead)
by Spike CarlsenGardeners, small farmers, and outdoor living enthusiasts will love this compilation of 76 rustic DIY projects. From plant supports and clotheslines to a chicken coop, a greenhouse, and a root cellar with storage bins, most of the projects are suitable for complete novices, and all use just basic tools and easy-to-find materials. You&’ll find techniques to build whatever your outdoor world is missing, with additional tips to live sustainably, happily, and independently. Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.
The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep
by Sue WeaverRaise a flock of sheep in your backyard. Even with a limited amount of space, you can enjoy homegrown fleece and fresh milk, as well as the endearing company of these family-friendly animals. Sue Weaver provides all the instructions you need for selecting a breed; housing and feeding; harvesting fleece; and milking. With simple recipes for making cheese and yogurt, and tips on processing fleece for wool, you&’ll enjoy the varied and numerous rewards of keeping sheep.
The Container Garden Recipe Book: 57 Designs for Pots, Window Boxes, Hanging Baskets, and More
by Lana WilliamsOver 50 step-by-step recipes for stunning outdoor planters of all shapes and sizes, in Artisan's bestselling flower recipe book format. We're taking the Recipe Book series outside! In the Container Garden Recipe Book, Lana Williams of the Oakland-based Tender Gardener offers readers dozens of step-by-step recipes for lush outdoor planters, from classic terra-cotta pots to window boxes, urns, bowls, and more. There are recipes specifically designed to adorn your porch or patio (a rustic birdcage-cum-hanging basket, a stately Japanese maple planted in a painted terra-cotta urn) and others that are perfect for backyard entertaining (an elegant tabletop trough of succulents, a concrete water garden that's sure to be a conversation starter). And with Lana as their guide, readers' yards will never be bare thanks to creative designs for all seasons, from urns bursting with spring bulbs to a summer trough brimming with fresh herbs and an heirloom pumpkin converted into the perfect home for fall blooms. And recreating these stunning designs couldn't be simpler! Each recipe includes a detailed ingredients list and step-by-step instructions, along with hundreds of photos showing where and how to place each plant. Also included is foundational information on planting techniques, care instructions, choosing the right container, as well as plant spotlights highlighting foolproof options for all climates and seasons, from spring bulbs to evergreens.
Incansable: Mi historia de la fuerza latina que está transformando a los Estados Unidos
by Luis A. Miranda Jr.Lectura esencial de una voz experta que necesita nuestro país: las memorias personales y políticas de Luis Miranda revelan un profundo conocimiento de la cultura latina y el desarrollo de una comunidad que puede cambiar nuestro mundo para bien. Siendo un veterano de Nueva York y de la política nacional, Luis Miranda encarna el espíritu progresista e incansable de los inmigrantes estadounidenses. No existe persona alguna en la escena política latina, neoyorquina y nacional con la amplia experiencia, pasión y encanto narrativo de Luis Miranda. En Incansable, nos comparte la conmovedora historia de su vida y carrera, desde sus inicios como activista puertorriqueño con mentalidad radical hasta sus décadas de asesoramiento político y resolución de problemas. Experimentamos la emoción con la exposición de Hamilton, creada por su hijo Lin-Manuel. Además, vivimos el sufrimiento tras la devastación de Puerto Rico por el huracán María. En medio de los triunfos, los desafíos y el arduo trabajo continuo, Miranda examina lo que su experiencia le ha revelado acerca de nuestra política, demografía y sociedad en constante cambio.
The Secrets of the Little Greek Taverna
by Erin PalmisanoThe ultimate beach read, with a Chocolat-esque touch of magical realism, this debut novel will delight and charm readers from start to finish, whisking them off to a Greek Island where food and wine are the stuff of life, where friendships lift you up, and love has a way of catching you when you&’re least expecting it. In a village on Naxos lies a gorgeous guest house and taverna that never opened. Cressida&’s husband died suddenly three years ago – the taverna was their dream – but she&’s been too lost in grief to keep that dream alive. Marjory "Jory" St. James, a young traveler who always feels more at home on the move, arrives on Naxos in the middle of the night as if summoned by the island. She quite unexpectedly becomes Cressida&’s very first guest. Jory quickly discovers that this island vacation is more than just a sightseeing adventure as all of the women in town are more than what they seem. But when a hotel group offers to buy Cressida's taverna, it's going to take all of Jory and Cressida's drive and expertise to keep that from happening. With a generous dash of romance, deliciously tempting Greek food, and a growing friendship, can these two women find a way to finally open the little Greek taverna?
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth
by Paul Hoffman"A funny, marvelously readable portrait of one of the most brilliant and eccentric men in history." --The Seattle Times Paul Erdos was an amazing and prolific mathematician whose life as a world-wandering numerical nomad was legendary. He published almost 1500 scholarly papers before his death in 1996, and he probably thought more about math problems than anyone in history. Like a traveling salesman offering his thoughts as wares, Erdos would show up on the doorstep of one mathematician or another and announce, "My brain is open." After working through a problem, he'd move on to the next place, the next solution. Hoffman's book, like Sylvia Nasar's biography of John Nash, A Beautiful Mind, reveals a genius's life that transcended the merely quirky. But Erdos's brand of madness was joyful, unlike Nash's despairing schizophrenia. Erdos never tried to dilute his obsessive passion for numbers with ordinary emotional interactions, thus avoiding hurting the people around him, as Nash did. Oliver Sacks writes of Erdos: "A mathematical genius of the first order, Paul Erdos was totally obsessed with his subject--he thought and wrote mathematics for nineteen hours a day until the day he died. He traveled constantly, living out of a plastic bag, and had no interest in food, sex, companionship, art--all that is usually indispensable to a human life."The Man Who Loved Only Numbers is easy to love, despite his strangeness. It's hard not to have affection for someone who referred to children as "epsilons," from the Greek letter used to represent small quantities in mathematics; a man whose epitaph for himself read, "Finally I am becoming stupider no more"; and whose only really necessary tool to do his work was a quiet and open mind. Hoffman, who followed and spoke with Erdos over the last 10 years of his life, introduces us to an undeniably odd, yet pure and joyful, man who loved numbers more than he loved God--whom he referred to as SF, for Supreme Fascist. He was often misunderstood, and he certainly annoyed people sometimes, but Paul Erdos is no doubt missed. --Therese Littleton
Violent Spring (An Ivan Monk Mystery #1)
by Gary PhillipsThe mystery that launched Gary Phillips's career: Black private eye Ivan Monk investigates the murder of a Korean shop owner in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.This reissued edition features an introduction by Walter Mosley.In 1992, Los Angeles burned. In the aftermath of the Rodney King beating and subsequent riots, a ground-breaking ceremony at the infamous intersection of Florence and Normandie unearths the body of a Korean shop owner. Black private eye Ivan Monk searches for the killer—many suspect the motives for the murder were racial. But then another body turns up, and while the FBI and the Rolling Daltons—the largest gang in the city—dog Monk&’s trail, Monk begins to question just how many people will be involved, and how many will die before he can find the truth.
The Dare
by Natasha Preston Natasha Green#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Preston is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!Would you accept the dare?In Marley&’s town, seniors are given a prank as a rite of passage…a dare, if you will. The dares start out simple…egging houses, balloons filled with glitter, chickens running loose in the halls.But this is no child&’s play.Accepting a dare means you could be expelled, arrested, or worse. No one wants to back down from a dare. But saying yes has consequences, too…
Summer After Summer: A Novel
by Lauren BaileyA woman returns to her family's Hamptons beach house for a final time—and a final chance at the love she's lost before, in this contemporary retelling of Persuasion, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Rebecca Serle.Olivia Taylor&’s marriage is in a death spiral when she agrees to come home to the Hamptons to help her father and sisters pack up the family estate. If it looks like she&’s running away from her soon-to-be ex, Wes, and New York City, well, she is. But someone has to take care of things and that&’s always been Olivia&’s role in the family. After years of financial trouble, someone&’s finally bailing them out with a huge offer to buy their beachfront property, which is a good thing, although it means losing the home she grew up in, where her mother died, and where she first met Fred, the love of her life.It&’s been five years since the last time things blew up between Olivia and Fred, but much longer since the first time. At this point, Olivia fears it was never meant to be, so there&’s no reason to feel butterflies in her stomach at the idea of seeing him again. They&’ve already tried, and tried again…and again…but she&’s newly single, and she isn&’t the same person she was the last time–and Fred has changed too. This time, things will be different. Maybe, just maybe, the fifth time&’s the charm.
DC Batman: The Joker's Parade (Little Golden Book)
by Golden BooksBatman saves the day in this Funko POP! Little Golden Book featuring the classic 1989 Batman!The classic 1989 Batman meets the quirky and loveable Funko POP! art style in this delightful Little Golden Book featuring Gotham City&’s favorite Super Hero. When The Joker throws a sinister parade for Gotham City, it&’s up to Batman to stop his antics! This collectable Little Golden Book will delight kids ages 2 to 5—as well as fans and collectors of all ages who love Little Golden Books, Funko POPs and the Caped Crusader.
The Minor Miracle: The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor (The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor)
by Meredith DavisWhat happens when a seemingly average seventh grader discovers he has superpowers . . . and then realizes his life just got super complicated? Find out in this action-packed adventure perfect for young readers.&“A spectacular new superhero.&”—Kathi Appelt, Newbery honoree and National Book Award finalistAs a baby, Noah Minor miraculously—and mysteriously—survived a fall from a sixteen-story balcony. But ever since then, Noah&’s life has been pretty boring.As he enters seventh grade, Noah is hoping to be less ordinary and more extraordinary, like his best friends, trumpet prodigy Rodney and the practically perfect Haley. So Noah&’s sure his star is on the rise when during a standard vision test, he learns he can manipulate gravity and is recruited to train with Gravitas, a top-secret government agency!Noah thinks his life will now be awesome, but instead, he has a whole new set of problems. The biggest one: His great-uncle Saul is on Gravitas&’s most-wanted list . . . but might also be the only person who can help Noah reach his full potential.
How Does Money Work? (Step into Reading)
by Scott EmmonsThe robots from Netflix's StoryBots Answer Time star in an all-new Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader!Bing wants to know what money is and why we use it. His questions lead him from a bank to a tour of a successful lemonade stand. What he learns will fascinate children ages 4 to 6 who love Netflix's educational show.Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.
Tornadoes! (Third Edition)
by Gail GibbonsWhat in the world is a tornado? In this age of extreme weather, this newly updated edition of Gail Gibbons' informative introduction to tornadoes, with safety tips included, answers that question.Tornadoes form when hot, humid air rises from the ground and meets with the cooler, denser air that is falling back to Earth. The two airstreams begin to swirl, pulling in more and more air to form a funnel-shaped cloud. The winds can swirl faster than 261 miles per hour!Newly revised and vetted by weather experts, Tornadoes is an accessible introduction to this fascinating phenomenon. Using her praised combination of clear text and detailed illustrations, Gail Gibbons shares more than fifty tornado facts. . . . including how tornadoes form, the scale used for classifying them, and the safest places to go in case one should happen near you. Includes updated information on the affects climate change on extreme weather and the increase of tornado activity in the American South.Featuring simple, kid-friendly text, colorful paintings, and well-labeled diagrams, Gail Gibbons' nonfiction titles have been called "staples of any collection" (Kirkus Reviews) and offer clear, accessible introductions to complex topics for young readers beginning to explore the world.
Sweet Valley Twins: (A Graphic Novel) (Sweet Valley Twins #4)
by Francine PascalThere's a new girl in Sweet Valley...and she's a witch?! Join twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth as they discover if the rumors match reality in this all new graphic novel from the The New York Times bestselling world of Sweet Valley Twins.The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?
The Journey: How to Prepare Kids for a Competitive and Changing World
by Greg KaplanRooted in humorous stories distilled with bits of sagely honest advice, The Journey goes beyond the well-chronicled college admissions madness and cuts to the core of parental angst with concrete suggestions for preparing children for a competitive and rapidly changing world.Young people face an increasing medley of challenges as they pursue higher education—rising tuition costs, daunting prospective student debt, and a talented and competitive applicant pool. After a decade of preparing students for the ever more difficult admissions process, college counselor Greg Kaplan wishes parents would stop thinking, &“What should I do to get my kid into a good college?&” and instead ask: &“How can I best prepare my child for what comes next?&” Having practiced law and worked in investment banking early in his career before pivoting to working with students, parents, and educators, Kaplan knows what the world—and its population of college admissions officers—is looking for in today&’s youth and tomorrow's leaders: Grit. Leadership. Passion.Emphasizing these fundamental tenets of successful adulthood, The Journey paints a realistic picture of the lack of preparedness among today&’s youth. Using stories of parents and students who have struggled and succeeded, Kaplan pushes students to consider: What do you want to get out of your college and work career? How can you jumpstart your journey into the real world? He asks parents: Are you preparing your children to attain a life of health, happiness, and financial independence?Rooted in humorous stories sprinkled with bits of brutally honest advice, The Journey goes beyond the well-chronicled college admissions madness and cuts to the core of parental angst. This is the definitive guide in preparing children for a competitive and rapidly changing world.
Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms
by Shaunie HendersonShaunie Henderson—wife, mother, entrepreneur, producer, and creator of the hit TV show Basketball Wives—opens up about finding love, offers advice for raising strong, smart, grounded Black children in today&’s world, and reveals how to define your career and personal life by your own terms in this inspirational memoir.Today, Shaunie Henderson is a force to be reckoned with—a TV personality, producer of multiple hit reality shows, entrepreneur, philanthropist, mother of five children, First Lady of her husband&’s church, and role model. But before she found her voice and her purpose, she was one more young woman trying to find her way as a partner, a parent, and a person. In Undefeated, Henderson opens up about the struggles, heartbreaks, losses, and triumphs that have made her who she is today—stories that will inspire you to rise up, discover your strength and self-love, and be who you are meant to be. Featuring her relatable voice and filled with candor, Undefeated is so much more than a memoir—it is a stirring guidebook that will change your life for the better.
It's Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness
by Chaz EbertForgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness—these four fundamental human values are the key to unlocking great unity and humanity. In It&’s Time to Give a FECK, Chaz Ebert takes the reader through a heartfelt journey of how the four FECK Principles have prevailed through the most adverse circumstances and united strangers in the name of love. Read on to discover the stories and science as to how the elevation of our personal humanity is key to keeping humanity as a whole united. None of us has to go it alone. Since her husband&’s, Roger Ebert&’s, death on April 4, 2013, it has been Chaz Ebert&’s fervent desire for things such as forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness—the FECK Principles—to spread in such a viral way that they become a natural part of our lives. A next step to the work Chaz and Roger began together, It&’s Time to Give a FECK is a call for the elevation of unity among humanity and a movement to transform empathy into action by choosing to become a part of the conversation surrounding the philosophical principles that matter for the betterment of our local and global societies. Good can come from the most frightening of circumstances and positive strides in human behavior can be made from even the most horrifying experiences. And transformations made within these times have the potential to be equally, if not even more, powerful if sustained. In It&’s Time to Give a FECK, Chaz Ebert takes readers on an awakening journey of how the FECK Principles have prevailed through the most adverse circumstances, uniting strangers in the name of love. Where do we go from here? What can we do to prove to one another that we really are in this together? What contributions can we each make in the name of forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness? If you care about changing the way things are and bringing more love—for life itself, for yourself, and for others—into your life, this book will give you the stories and strategies that move you into action and allow you to &“Give a FECK&” in any way, big or small, that fills your heart and the hearts of others.
The Instruments of Darkness: A Thriller (Charlie Parker #21)
by John ConnollyFrom the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve.In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can commit: the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty. But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife&’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built. A house, and what dwells beneath.
Hot Boy Summer
by Joe JiménezFour gay teens in Texas have the summer of their lives while discovering important truths about realness, belonging, and friendship in this joyful young adult contemporary novel for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli.Mac has never really felt like he belonged. Definitely not at home—his dad&’s politics and toxic masculinity make a real connection impossible. He thought he fit in on the baseball team, but that&’s only because he was pretending to be someone he wasn&’t. Finding his first gay friend, Cammy, was momentous; finally, he could be his authentic self around someone else. But as it turned out, not really. Cammy could be cruel, and his &“advice&” often came off way harsh. And then, Mac meets Flor, who shows him that you can be both fierce and kind, and Mikey, who is superhot and might maybe think the same about him. Over the course of one hot, life-changing summer, Mac will stand face-to-face with desire, betrayal, and letting go of shame, which will lead to some huge discoveries about the realness of truly belonging. Told in Mac&’s infectious, joyful, gay AF voice, Hot Boy Summer serves a tale as important as hope itself: four gay teens doing what they can to connect and have the fiercest summer of their lives. New friendships will be forged, hot boys will be kissed…and girl, the toxic will be detoxed.