Smart Protagonists: Manga, Novels, and Light Novels With Cunning, Intelligent, and Capable Main Characters

Hello, intern Shoto here—and for my final blog post, I am going to give you some reading recommendations for stories with ridiculously smart, cunning, and quick-thinking protagonists. 

It can be refreshing to read from the POV of an intelligent character who knows what they want and how to get it. But it seems such characters are few and far between, with most villains of the story being the masterminds in favor of the MC. Here are a few of the notable exceptions as we dive into manga, novel, and light novel protagonists who are too smart for their own good. 

Death Note

First on the list had to be Death Note. If you want to see a dark, nail-biting, dread-inducing intellectual battle between two of the greatest minds in fiction, this is the story for you. It’s a 12 volume psychological thriller manga series—written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata—and truly offers one of the best, if not the best, games of cat and mouse ever created. The protagonist, Light Yagami, begins as a “normal” high school student who is bored with life until he finds a notebook that has been dropped from another realm titled the Death Note. Light discovers if he writes a person’s name in the Death Note, that person will die. Thus begins his journey of becoming the “god of the new world” as he vows to wipe out all criminal activity and create a society of true justice.

But of course things can’t be so easy for him … Enter onto the scene the world’s smartest detective, a mysterious, anonymous man who has been solving cases that stump even the most renowned investigators since he was only a child: L. After successfully provoking Light into killing a death row inmate on live television, L challenges Light and promises he will catch him no matter what. Light eagerly accepts the challenge, making his own plans to force L into revealing himself. Whoever’s identity is discovered first will die. But who will outsmart who in the end? 

• Light Yagami

• L

Classroom of the Elite

Classroom of the Elite (COTE) is a light novel series written by Syougo Kinugasa and illustrated by Tomoseshunsaku. For reference, a light novel is essentially a (typically) YA novel that includes some illustrations. COTE takes place at the prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, a cutthroat institution that ranks students by class and awards points for passing tests and outsmarting one another. The protagonist, Kyotaka Ayanokouji, starts out at the bottom of the ranks in Class D and desires nothing more than to live out his high school days peacefully flying under the radar. But unforeseen circumstances and his complicated past force him to begin moving his class up toward Class A.

While Ayanokouji appears at first glance to be a normal, unremarkable student, he is in fact a cold, ruthless genius who, when faced against someone in his way, never loses. Now, he must take out the competition while ensuring his class’s success in order to protect his own, new-found life here at this advanced high school for the elite. 

• Kyotaka Ayanokouji

• Ayano looking extra cold

Sherlock Holmes

Haha! Of course Sherlock had to be here! He doesn’t require an introduction, so this is really just a reminder to check out the series if you have yet to do so. It offers the perfect books for anyone who wants to read about murder, solving seemingly impossible mysteries, and a protagonist who is famous for his sharp, inquisitive mind. If you’re just starting out, begin first with A Study in Scarlet and continue on from there.

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Another mystery series, the first book of Stalking Jack the Ripper is, of course, inspired by the Ripper murders and throws its protagonist, seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, right into the middle of these chillingly gruesome crimes. Determined to discover who Jack the Ripper is and prevent him from murdering anyone else, Audrey Rose must team up with her rival, the cocky but brilliant Thomas Crestwell, offering what is essentially the Sherlock to Audrey Rose’s Watson. But the adventures don’t stop with Jack the Ripper, the two teenage sleuths continue to find themselves surrounded by dark circumstances and dangerous mysteries as they go from the bloodstained streets of London to a castle haunted by Prince Dracula, a cruise ship with a cursed carnival aboard, and a murder hotel in America. 

Love is War 

Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are the Vice President and President of their high school’s student council. Both of them are intelligent, egotistical overachievers who refuse to ever admit their feelings for one another, seeing that as a sign of defeat. Instead, they play a long cat and mouse game to trick each other into confessing the truth. Love is War has been described as “if Death Note was a romantic comedy”, and that pretty much sums it up. Both protagonists are sharp as hell, and absolutely determined to “win” this game of love, no matter the cost. If you enjoy light hearted comedy as well as high emotional stakes and excessive mind games, this is a great manga to get into.

Tomodachi Game  

Last but absolutely, most certainly, not least, is Tomodachi Game. Translating to “Friends Game” in English, this manga follows Yuuichi Katagiri and the rest of his friends after they are kidnapped and forced to play in a mysterious, horrible game meant to tear apart your friendships and throw you into debt and despair. But Yuuichi is no normal high school student, and the Tomodachi Game doesn’t realize the mistake it’s made by letting him inside … 

The situations the characters find themselves in seem so impossible at times that the dread you will feel for them is palpable. But each and every time, no matter the odds, our genius protagonist Yuuichi finds a way to spin the situation on its head. Never have I read about such hopeless circumstances only to have them turn around so completely—and in a way that is explained and makes sense, no less! The plans he pulls off are so inventive and clever, it’s truly impossible to see what’s coming next. I’m not joking when I say this is the twistiest story I have ever read. If you think you know where it’s going, you don’t. If you think you know what Yuuichi is planning, you don’t. This is a series where both the plot and the protagonist himself keep you on the edge of your seat, occasionally pushing you off that seat entirely. But just when you think you can’t take the suspense and potential anxiety-caused heart-attacks a minute longer, you’ll look up from the ground to see Yuuichi smiling at you as he holds out his hand for you to take. And once you take that hand the first time, you’ll never want to let go. 

• Yuuichi being extra freaky

• Hey hey, now, that’s not a very humane face, Yuuichi

(A manga where the protagonist might just be scarier than any of the antagonists …)

images: pinterest, instagram, hulu, wiki

Remember to stay icy, and stay hot – Shoto

Back-to-School Reading Recommendations

The sounds of feet clopping down the hallway. The smell of pencil shavings and eraser marks. The taste of metallic...

Before school officially starts, it might behoove you to brush up on your grammar skills. A good place to start is A Few Words About Words by Joe Diorio. The accessibility of this review guide is what really makes it stand out. Based on the widely-read newsletter, Diorio’s book will have you familiar and confident with the intricacies of the English language in no time. Click on the picture below for more information!

While we’re on the topic of brushing up, why not stop by the annals of geography? Jeff Alt’s Bubba Jones series is perfect for your adventurous middle-schooler. The most recent novel in the series features none other than the Grand Canyon, where your kiddos will explore the past, present, and future without having to leave their school district. Imagine how impressive their summer vacation stories (not to mention reading logs) will be!

A fun history class pick is Dennis Duncan’s recent release Index, the History of: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age. This one really is, as its subtitle suggests, a grand adventure for anyone bookish enough to go on it. Not relegated to the index alone, this written history details everything from the printing press to page numbers. I highly recommend the audiobook version, which you can listen to on the school bus while feeling super sophisticated.

And if you have (or are) a high-schooler looking for adventure, try Andrew Smith’s young adult award-winner Ghost Medicine, about a group of friends who need to get out of trouble on their small-town ranch. A sort of young adult western Ghost Medicine will have your blood pumping, and is the perfect story to get you back in the groove of early mornings. It was one of my summer’s top reads, and is one not to be missed!         

And finally, while it’s a nice sentiment that we’ll all feel great to be back (or have our kids back) in school, there’s a little piece of all of us that will miss summer vacation. The cure for this particular nostalgia is Camp Boyfriend by R.K. Rock. Featuring an underdog triumph and a charming teenage romance, this book series is sure to make your first few weeks back more bearable. Not only is this the perfect book for adults to look back on their glory days, it’s also the book your student will want to sneak-read under their desk. 

Here at Beaufort, we love seeing folks of all ages preparing for the upcoming school year. We wish you the best of luck on your back-to-school shopping, organizing, and most importantly, reading. 

Book Soundtracks

Hey y’all! It’s intern What Makes You BEAUtiful here to talk about two things I love more than anything: 1)...

To me, music and books go hand in hand. I’m one of those people who listens to music while reading, and I always try to match the ~vibes~ of my music to however I feel as I’m reading. So, in honor of The Summer I Turned Pretty and its spotless soundtrack, I made playlists for a few of my upcoming reads. If you don’t like to listen to music while reading, maybe you can press play while going for a snack break (if you can tear your eyes away from these books for that long). And, most importantly, if any of these books get adapted, I think these songs would fit perfectly into their soundtracks.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

—Description from publisher’s Amazon page

I couldn’t start off without talking more about The Summer I Turned Pretty (seriously, go watch it on Prime Video right now). This is the official playlist on Spotify, featuring indie artists and pop anthems alike. 

The Vibes: light, summery, upbeat. You’re young, on a beach, and trying to experience your first love (and all the ups and downs that come with it).

The Spanish Love Deception

Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiraled out of control. Now everyone she knows—including her ex and his fiancée—will be there and eager to meet him.

She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won’t be easy to fool.

Enter Aaron Blackford—her tall, handsome, condescending colleague—who surprisingly offers to step in. She’d rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man.

But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office.

—Description from publisher’s Amazon page

This rom-com is actually being adapted for film, and I definitely think they should include these tracks!

The Vibes: a little bit of love/hate, a lot of frustration and lust. You have to fake date your hated coworker but somehow fell for them along the way, so now you’re screaming at the top of your lungs to some pop and Spanish indie tunes.

For Love of the Duke

After the tragic death of his wife, Jasper, the 8th Duke of Bainbridge buried himself away in the dark cold walls of his home, Castle Blackwood. When he’s coaxed out of his self-imposed exile to attend the amusements of the Frost Fair, his life is irrevocably changed by his fateful meeting with Lady Katherine Adamson.

With her tight brown ringlets and silly white-ruffled gowns, Lady Katherine Adamson has found her dance card empty for two Seasons. After her father’s passing, Katherine learned the unreliability of men, and is determined to depend on no one, except herself. Until she meets Jasper…

In a desperate bid to avoid a match arranged by her family, Katherine makes the Duke of Bainbridge a shocking proposition—one that he accepts.

Only, as Katherine begins to love Jasper, she finds the arrangement agreed upon is not enough. And Jasper is left to decide if protecting his heart is more important than fighting for Katherine’s love.

The Vibes: romantic, magical, nostalgic. You’re dancing to slow songs at a ball with someone you’re falling in love with.

Lacie’s Secrets

For the past 18 years, Kate Williams has tried to forget the fateful summer in which her sister Lacie’s disappearance ripped their family apart. But when their estranged mother unexpectedly dies and Kate inherits Villa Magda, the family’s summer home on the Maine coast, Kate decides that enough time has passed. With the help of her husband, her son, and their close group of friends, Kate decides to face the past and go back to Villa Magda for one last trip.

But the sprawling, ocean-side house isn’t as picturesque as it seems, and as the week goes on, inexplicable incidents and suspicious visitors begin to torment Kate, threatening to expose her deepest secrets. The closer Kate gets to learning the truth about what happened that summer, the faster she realizes the house might be holding more secrets than she can handle.

As tensions run high and friendships unravel, Kate starts to question her decision to return to Villa Magda. But when tragedy strikes and a body is found floating in the pool, questions arise that demand answers: What really happened at Villa Magda 18 years ago? How much did Kate know? And how can the house be stopped from claiming its next victim?

Set on a remote and gorgeous Maine estate, Lacie’s Secrets is an exciting and cinematic psychological thriller with surprising twists that will keep the reader guessing until the very last page.

The Vibes: unsettling, somber, foreboding. You’re about to uncover a terrible secret while low vocals and eerie instrumentals echo in the background.

For the Wolf

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose—to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood—and her world—whole.

—Description from publisher’s Amazon page

The Vibes: dark forests, unknown enemies. You’re headstrong and terrified and surrounded by exactly the kind of power you feel radiating from a Hozier song.

Happy reading and listening! And for any film execs reading this: get in touch, because I’ll be waiting.

With love,

What Makes You BEAUtiful

Audiobook Appreciation & New StoryGraph Features

June, as we know, is Audiobook Appreciation Month. According to PBS, the first audiobook was recorded in 1932! That means...

With the advent of apps like Libby, which allow you to borrow audiobooks as you would any library book, listening to books is simpler now than it has ever been. But did you know that your listening stats are also easier to personally track than ever before? With a recently released StoryGraph update, tracking statistics for how many minutes you listen to audiobooks, and how those minutes translate to pages, is now at your fingertips. 

Imagine my surprise when, post-StoryGraph update, I logged in to find that my 2022 audiobook time came to 55.75 hours (see left) – that’s over 2 whole days!

If you are unfamiliar with StoryGraph, I want to point out that it’s a great tool for tracking your reading and if prioritizing reading was on your New Year’s Resolution list, you need to run, not walk, to download the app. The independent world’s answer to GoodReads, StoryGraph helps break down your reading choices into nifty categories like genre, mood, and format. What’s more, the app uses the data you provide to give you personalized recommendations! You can even follow Beaufort Books on the StoryGraph “community” tab to see what the Beaufort team has released and/or read lately.

StoryGraph is always receptive to feedback, and the audiobook-tracking update comes from users’ opinions and ideas. The new feature defaults to counting listening time as “pages,” but users can easily toggle back and forth between that and “minutes listened.” If you are planning on celebrating Audiobook Appreciation Month, StoryGraph is a must-have!

Young Adult Romance Reads for June

Hi everyone! June is here and so are our new summer interns, including me!

Summer always feels like a nostalgic time for me, reminiscent of days at the pool with copious amounts of sunscreen and the popsicles I used to eat as a kid. In the spirit of nostalgia, you can call me What Makes You BEAUtiful (maybe we can imagine we’re back in 2012 and One Direction is ruling pop radio). A little about me: I go to college in Washington, DC, but I’m currently in Kansas City with my family for the summer. Last semester, I studied abroad in Madrid and ate too many croquetas and drank too much sangria. I might be back in the States now, but that’s the energy I want to bring into summer 2022.

Hopefully, y’all have been experiencing weather as nice as I have. Lately, my perfect evening has been sitting outside on my patio with a summer blanket and a good read. This weekend, I went to a couple of my local bookstores and walked back out with my arms full of young adult romance novels (my ultimate weakness). So, here’s what I’m reading this month:

Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler

Josh Chester loves being a Hollywood bad boy, coasting on his good looks, his parties, his parents’ wealth, and the occasional modeling gig. But his laid-back lifestyle is about to change. To help out his best friend, Liam, he joins his hit teen TV show, Daylight Falls…opposite Vanessa Park, the one actor immune to his charms. (Not that he’s trying to charm her, of course.) Meanwhile, his drama-queen mother blackmails him into a new family reality TV show, with Josh in the starring role. Now that he’s in the spotlight–on everyone’s terms but his own–Josh has to decide whether a life as a superstar is the one he really wants.

Vanessa Park has always been certain about her path as an actor, despite her parents’ disapproval. But with all her relationships currently in upheaval, she’s painfully uncertain about everything else. When she meets her new career handler, Brianna, Van is relieved to have found someone she can rely on, now that her BFF, Ally, is at college across the country. But as feelings unexpectedly evolve beyond friendship, Van’s life reaches a whole new level of confusing. And she’ll have to choose between the one thing she’s always loved…and the person she never imagined she could.

Practically Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

Ever practical Grace Correa has planned the perfect life.

She has Leia, the perfect girlfriend, amazing friends, is part of Pine Central’s glitterati, and has been accepted into her first-choice university guaranteeing one of the best paying jobs in the country. To Grace, life is an equation where everything can be perfectly calculated to ensure maximum success and the perfect future.

The problem is that life has a funny way of getting in the way of plans.

With high school rushing to an end, Grace’s plans start falling apart. The “piece of cake” final design project is anything but easy, everyone seems to need everything from her, her schedule is a mess, and after a massive fight, all signs say that breaking up with Leia is the practical choice for both of them. Especially since long distance college relationships never seem to last. Except…Grace starts to wonder for the first time in her life if she messed up her calculations.

What can a practical person do when love is the least practical choice?

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the feeling took root—that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly everything seemed possible. 

But America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters. There’s just one problem—all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans readers across the globe.

When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. The only way to save the Diary is to convince everyone that the stories are true, but he doesn’t have any proof. Then Drew walks into Noah’s life, and the pieces fall into place: Drew is willing to fake-date Noah to save the Diary. But when Noah’s feelings grow beyond their staged romance, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t quite the same as finding love on the page.

In this charming novel by Emery Lee, Noah will have to choose between following his own rules for love or discovering that the most romantic endings are the ones that go off script.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled-but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.

As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.

Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters. There’s just one problem—all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans readers across the globe.

When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. The only way to save the Diary is to convince everyone that the stories are true, but he doesn’t have any proof. Then Drew walks into Noah’s life, and the pieces fall into place: Drew is willing to fake-date Noah to save the Diary. But when Noah’s feelings grow beyond their staged romance, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t quite the same as finding love on the page.

Now, it’s time for me to get out and enjoy the weather with one of these amazing reads!

With love,

What Makes You BEAUtiful

Elizabeth BEAUnnet says Hello!

Hi y’all! 

This is one of the four summer interns at Beaufort Books writing under the nom-de-plume Elizabeth BEAUnnet. Pride and Prejudice will forever and always be one of my favorite books and movies of all time, so I had to pay homage when choosing my nom-de-plume. 

I am over the moon excited to be interning at Beaufort Books for the summer! As someone who has loved reading since the minute I learned to do it, working in book publishing has always been a dream. Throughout my entire academic career, I have always been the friend that you call when you need a good book recommendation or someone to proofread and edit your latest essay. When you combine those tasks, you get my two favorite things to do: reading and writing. 

As with many readers, writing has always been one of my passions. I always knew that writing was something I wanted to pursue in life, and at the tender age of 8, I had already started writing my first novel. After starting that book, I never stopped writing. When I joined the yearbook club my freshman year of high school, I realized how much I loved the editorial side of publishing. Joining the yearbook club quite literally changed my life, as it is what inspired me to choose my two college majors: journalism and communication. 

As a rising senior in college, I am thrilled to be getting hands-on experience in the publishing industry here at Beaufort. After graduation, I plan to attend a university in New York, where I will hopefully obtain my Master’s degree in publishing. Or maybe I’ll end up receiving my Master’s in England… I have to live up to my nom-de-plume somehow! 

I am so excited to see what amazing opportunities my internship has ahead of me this summer! 

Best, 

Elizabeth BEAUnnet

Intern Shoto Says Hi

Hello and welcome to my blog post. 

My name is Shoto and I am officially an intern at Beaufort for the summer. Naturally, I am also a college student and, after changing my area of study an absurd amount of times, I now major in screenwriting and creative writing. Though it is a great shock to all, my favorite hobby is a combination of reading and writing. However, I also love to draw and my ideal future is one that includes both writing novels and creating comics. 

My favorite books are No Longer Human, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Call of the Wild, The Catcher in the Rye, the A Court of Thorns & Roses series, the Percy Jackson series, and I Want To Eat Your Pancreas. It’s true that nearly all people think their own reading lists are superior to those of others, but I will still “highly recommend” that you try out No Longer Human all the same. Perhaps my greatest current desire is to find another person whom I can speak to about that novel, for there is no doubt in my mind that a good conversation about a good book can be all but life changing. Likewise, I would be most interested to find out what your all-time favorite novel is. 

Outside of the purely literary realm, I am a big fan of the tv series Supernatural, Sherlock, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, Haikyuu, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Death Note. There is one more that you may be able to guess given my name … 

In addition to reading, drawing, and writing, a pastime of mine is to obsessively create and listen to character playlists. One of my best, if not unsolicited, pieces of advice for other writers is to come up with different character playlists/story playlists to listen to as you write your work. It is both a fun and useful hobby to cultivate. And always remember to consider, if your YA book fails to include the words “glass,” “ash,” “blood,” “throne,” “curse,” “shadow,” or “crown”  in its title, can it really be YA? The answer is no. You can do better.

Stay icy, stay hot,

Shoto Todoroki (alternatively: Beaudoroki) 

picture of me saying ‘hi’

images: pinterest

April Showers Means Staying Inside with a Good Book

April is here, readers! With Spring springing (or just around the corner, depending on where you’re reading from), there is...

While April showers bring May flowers, Beau Weasley has compiled a list of similar thrilling novels to read on a rainy day to prep for the dark twists Lacie’s Secrets will enthrall you with.

To set the scene, reminiscent of classic suspense novels, Lacie’s Secrets is the latest psychological thriller from writing duo Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist. 

For the past 18 years, Kate Williams has tried to forget that fateful summer, the summer that ripped her family apart. But when her estranged mother unexpectedly dies and Kate inherits Villa Magda, the family’s summer home on the Maine coast, Kate decides that enough time has passed. With the help of her husband, her son, and their close group of friends, Kate decides to face the past and go back to Villa Magda for one last trip.

But the sprawling, ocean-side house isn’t as picturesque as it seems, and as the week goes on, inexplicable incidents and suspicious visitors begin to torment Kate, threatening to expose her deepest secrets.

The closer Kate gets to learning the truth about what happened that summer, the faster she realizes the house might be holding more secrets than she can handle.

As tensions run high and friendships unravel, Kate starts to question her decision to return to Villa Magda. But when tragedy strikes and a body is found floating in the pool, questions arise that demand answers: What really happened at Villa Magda 18 years ago? How much did Kate know? And how can the house be stopped from claiming its next victim?
Set on a remote and gorgeous Maine estate, Lacie’s Secrets is an exciting and cinematic psychological thriller with surprising twists that will keep the reader guessing until the very last page.

The Woman in the Park by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist

When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children. But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman’s disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police. With no one to trust, Sarah must face her inner demons and uncover the truth to prove her innocence. A thriller that questions what is real-with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies—The Woman in the Park will leave readers breathless.

When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children. But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman’s disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police. With no one to trust, Sarah must face her inner demons and uncover the truth to prove her innocence. A thriller that questions what is real-with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies—The Woman in the Park will leave readers breathless.

When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children. But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman’s disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police. With no one to trust, Sarah must face her inner demons and uncover the truth to prove her innocence. A thriller that questions what is real-with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies—The Woman in the Park will leave readers breathless.

Red Hotel by Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller

When a bomb rips the façade off the Kensington Hotel in Tokyo, dozens are killed and injured while one man walks calmly away from the wreckage, a coy smile playing on his lips. Former Army intelligence officer Dan Reilly, now an international hotel executive with high-level access to the CIA, makes it his mission to track him down. He begins a jet-setting search for answers as the clock ticks down to a climactic event that threatens NATO and the very security of member nations. Reilly begins mining old contacts and resources in an effort to delve deeper into the motive behind these attacks and fast. Through his connections, he learns that the Tokyo bomber is not acting alone. But the organization behind the perpetrator is not who they expect. Facilitated by the official government from a fearsome global superpower, the implications and reasons for these attacks are well beyond anything Reilly or his sources in the CIA and State Department could have imagined, and point not to random acts of terror, but calculated acts of war. RED Hotel is an incredibly timely globe-trotting thriller that’s fiction on the edge of reality. The second book in the series, Red Deception, was released in 2021!

Seeking Hyde by Thomas Reed

Seeking Hyde sticks closely to the biographical record as Robert Louis Stevenson struggles to write another book to be the successor to Treasure Island. After the infamous two characters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, take form in a dream, Stevenson writes passionately for three days, convinced that he has crafted his masterpiece. His wife Fanny, a willful and demanding gypsy, offers a scathing critique, obliging him to start over from the beginning. While the revised tale is published to great acclaim, it is ultimately blamed for inspiring a gruesome series of murders in London’s East End. From that tragic historical irony, Seeking Hyde moves beyond the actual story of how Jekyll and Hyde came to be to explore the realm of “what if?” Desperate to address his own guilt, Stevenson enters the dark underworld of Victorian London. As he follows a twisted path through this midnight landscape, the author-turned-detective wrestles with the social demons of prostitution, police corruption, and the hypocrisy of powerful men—ultimately coming face-to-face with Jack the Ripper himself.

The Stranger by Harlan Coben

A secret destroys a man’s perfect life and sends him on a collision course with a deadly conspiracy in this shocking thriller. The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. Their identity is unknown. Their motives are unclear. Their information is undeniable. Then they whisper a few words in your ear and disappear, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world… Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives–it will end them.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. If he’s lucky, he’ll get a job at the hospital cafeteria. If he’s extra lucky, he’ll earn more than minimum wage. But Ray has a gift and a dream–he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music. When he discovers that his great-great-grandfather’s beat-up old fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach. Together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition–the Olympics of classical music–the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Ray will have to piece together the clues to recover his treasured Strad … before it’s too late. With the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray’s great-great-grandfather asserting that the instrument is rightfully theirs, and with his family staking their own claim, Ray doesn’t know who he can trust—or whether he will ever see his beloved violin again.

May flowers can’t come fast enough, and neither can Lacie’s Secrets, but there’s nothing better than a good book while we wait.

Beau Weasley, signing off!

Congratulations to our 2021 Foreword INDIES Finalists!

The 2021 Foreword INDIES Finalists were announced this week, and we are thrilled to announce that two of our titles...

A Few Words About Words

A Few Words About Words is one of the finalists in the Humor category! The Adult Nonfiction Humor category honors books that present a multitude of topics in a comical or satirical manner. Such books may use wit to comment on society and other traditionally serious issues such as the economy, politics, and family life.

Spawned from the widely-circulated and beloved newsletter of the same name, Joe Diorio’s A Few Words About Words blends quick-witted anecdotes from more than 30 years of newsletter entries that highlight the common, uncommon, and surprising grammar mistakes most English speakers make.

Click here to learn more about A Few Words About Words.

The Image

The Image is one of the finalists in the Religious category! The Adult Religious Fiction category honors books that are faith-based. In these works, ideas of God or religion play a significant role in plot, character development, and outcome.

Steven Faulkner’s The Image is a profound and compelling collection of linked short stories about faith, hope, belonging, and the search for meaning within a holy land.

Click here to learn more about The Image.

Empowered Women Empower Women

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all...

Happy March, readers! Before we get further, I wanted to acknowledge the distress in the world right now. Be strong, and safe, wherever you are. 

Beau Weasley here, encouraging you all to enjoy the spring and recognize the wonders of women this Women’s History Month. Here’s a compilation of memoirs about empowered women, written by empowering women:

• Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis

After graduating from college, Jennifer isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she’s crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. With every step she takes, Jennifer transitions from an over-confident college graduate to a student of the trail, braving situations she never imagined before her thru-hike. The trail is full of unexpected kindness, generosity, and humor. And when tragedy strikes, she learns that she can depend on other people to help her in times of need.

• Know My Name by Chanel Miller 

*SA trigger warning

Known as Emily Doe to the world, Chanel Miller reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic.

• Floreana by Margret Wittmer

The remarkable first-hand account of Margret Wittmer, who settled the island of Floreana in the Galapagos—600 miles from the mainland of Ecuador. It took Wittmer and her family weeks to travel to the island in 1932; they battled with the ties for three full days before they could land. Five months pregnant when she arrived, Wittmer found the beauty of the tropical island constantly tempered by the traumas of attempting everyday life in a wild and lonely spot. From the mysterious disappearance of a stranger linked to another recluse on the island, to a missed opportunity to meet President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 56 years recalled in this memoir are full of exotic adventures and the joys and tragedies of a lifetime.

• Lost and Found by Kathryn Schultz

Eighteen months before Kathryn Schulz’s beloved father died, she met the woman she would marry. In Lost & Found, she weaves the stories of those relationships into a brilliant exploration of how all our lives are shaped by loss and discovery—from the maddening disappearance of everyday objects to the sweeping devastations of war, pandemic, and natural disaster; from finding new planets to falling in love. The resulting book is part memoir, part guidebook to living in a world that is simultaneously full of wonder and joy and wretchedness and suffering—a world that always demands both our gratitude and our grief.

• Called Again: A Story of Love and Triumph by Jennifer Pharr Davis

In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis became the overall record holder on the Appalachian Trail. By hiking 2,181 miles in 46 days – an average of 47 miles per day – she became the first female to ever set that mark. But this is not a book about records or numbers; this is a book about endurance and faith, and most of all love.  The most amazing part of this story is not found at the finish, but is discovered through the many challenges, lessons and relationships that present themselves along the trail. This is Jennifer’s story, in her own words, about how she started this journey with a love for hiking and more significantly a love for her husband Brew. By completing this extraordinary amateur feat, Jennifer rose above the culture of multi-million dollar sports contracts that is marked by shortcuts and steroids. This is the story of a real person doing something remarkable. Jennifer Pharr Davis is a modern role-model for women – and men. She is an authentic hero.

• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.

• School Choice: A Legacy to Keep by Virginia Walden Ford

On a cold winter night in February of 1967, a large rock shattered a bedroom window in Virginia Walden Ford’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas, landing in her baby sister’s crib. Outside, members of the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on her family’s lawn. Faceless bigots were terrorizing Virginia, her parents, and her sisters–all because her father, Harry Fowler, dared to take a job as the assistant superintendent of personnel for the Little Rock School District. He was more than qualified, but he was Black. In her searing new memoir, legendary school choice advocate Virginia Walden Ford recounts the lessons she learned as a child in the segregated south. School Choice: A Legacy to Keep, tells the dramatic true story of how poor D.C. parents, with the support of unlikely allies, faced off against some of America’s most prominent politicians—and won a better future for children.

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.

While these books are representative, they are not all-encompassing. I encourage you, reader, to utilize Women’s History Month and reflect–on often overlooked accomplishments, on women’s empowerment, and reflect on how you can be the change you want to see in the world.

Beau Weasley, signing off!

THE 3 BOOKS I’M TAKING WITH ME ON MY 3-WEEK-LONG ADVENTURE

Beaufort Readers,

I’m here with exciting news: Beaulla Swan is escaping the bitter Michigan winter on a journey down south to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico! 

And, as every book lover knows, no carry-on is fully packed without a novel or two. So, I am here to share the three books that I’m taking with me on my three-week-long adventure! Fingers crossed that I finish them all while I’m away!

North of the Tension Line by J.F. Riordan

First, we have North of the Tension Line, book one of the series written by J.F. Riordan. To be honest, what initially drew me to this book was the exquisite cover art. And after reading its description, my suspicion was confirmed: this book will be perfect for a long flight littered with multiple layovers.

The story follows Fiona Campbell on her daring journey to conquer the furthest tip of the Door County peninsula in Wisconsin. Fiona shacks up in a decrepit home on the island for the winter, expecting little action from the peninsula’s small population. However, as she navigates ruthless drama, hard-to-handle neighbors, and unrelenting animals, Fiona experiences a spiritual renewal that she was surely unprepared for. 

I’m looking forward to diving into this wonderful story, and hopefully picking up the next book in the series when I’m back in Michigan!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Next up on the list is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah! Once again, beautiful cover, but I picked this up because of the endless recommendations I’ve received. I’ve seen and heard about this novel everywhere, from TikTok to blog posts, and all reviews have one thing in common: this heart-wrenching novel is a must-read. 

The story follows Ernt and Cora Allbright, and their thirteen-year-old daughter Leni, on their spontaneous move to Alaska. Leni desperately hopes that their new off-the-grid home will lead to a more stable family dynamic and calm the tumultuous storm that is her parents’ marriage, and at first, this seems to be the case. But, as winter approaches, the family crumbles, and the Allbright women are faced with the heart-breaking reality that Ernt has abandoned them. Now alone in frigid and remote Alaska, Cora and Leni must learn to survive on their own. 

I am incredibly excited to dive into this widely loved masterpiece.

The Woman in the Park by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist

Last, but certainly not least, I’m packing The Woman in the Park by Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist with me. I’m a sucker for a good thriller and a bona fide page-turner, which is why I picked up this book. 

This story follows Sarah Rock who is desperate to get away from her cheating husband, stressful children, and emotionless therapist. When Sarah meets a handsome stranger in the park, she thinks she’s found an escape from her dramatically un-perfect life. But later on, when a woman from that same park goes missing, Sarah’s life is turned upside down as she becomes a prime suspect in the case.

With The Girl on the Train vibes, this book promises to be filled with suspense, drama, and passion. I can’t wait to dive in.

Be on the lookout for reviews soon, and maybe even some adventurous anecdotes from Puerto Rico as well!

Until next time, 

Beaulla Swan

Books x Bastille

Dearest Readers,

Let me set the scene: It’s 2013–the sun is shining, you’re wearing way too many layered t-shirts, and “Pompeii” by Bastille is blasting on the radio for the fourth time that hour. 

No? Just me?

Luckily for all of us, “Pompeii” did not follow in the tradition of one-hit wonders and was just the first of many great hits released by the English pop rock band. Their latest album, Give Me the Future, released a couple weeks ago and includes their most recent hit, “Shut Off the Lights.”

Now, what does any of this have to do with books?

A lot, actually! Not only does Give Me the Future explore Bastille’s own musings on technology, reality, and how the two interact, it’s also chock-full of references to some exceptional science fiction books! The books (and my musings on them) can be found below!

1984 by George Orwell

Perhaps the most famous of the referenced books, 1984 paints a dystopian future in which government is totalitarian and surveillance is omnipresent. It follows Winston Smith, a lowly worker employed to rewrite historical documents who desperately wishes to overthrow the government. Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning against propaganda, regimentation, and the erasure of history, and many terms used in the book, most notably “Big Brother,” have become a part of our regular lexicon.

Island by Aldous Huxley

Writing in direct contrast to his own novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley crafts the idea of the ultimate utopia in his book Island. In Island, Englishman Will Farnaby deliberately wrecks his ship in order to gain entry to the Kingdom of Pala, located on an island between Sumatra and the Andaman Islands. The society he finds there is utopic, with a culture that blends western science and eastern Buddhism, values multifaceted education, and believes the key to overcoming suffering and death is to live wholly in the moment. 

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick’s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, also known by its revised title Blade Runner, is an exploration of morality and what it actually means to be human. The book follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter assigned to “retire” androids who have escaped from Mars and fled to Earth. In his hunt for the androids, Deckard comes to learn that the androids are almost entirely indistinguishable from organic human beings and that both have been killed in the process.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 

In addition to Island, we have another reference to a Huxley work, this time to his work of dystopian fiction, Brave New World. This story examines a future in which humans are engineered in artificial wombs and later sorted into predetermined castes based on their intelligence and work. Natural-born humans are viewed as “savages” and live in exile on reservations around the world.

Total Recall by Piers Anthony

Based on the story, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” by Philip K. Dick, Total Recall blurs the line between dreams and reality. When Douglas Quail, the novel’s protagonist, is having a fake memory installed, he discovers that the nightmares he’s been having of covert missions on Mars are his true memories that have been repressed by his employers. His life is completely overturned and he is left to question all that he believed to be true.

These are but a few of the incredible books that make the science fiction genre so compelling. If you’re wanting sci-fi that’s a touch more recent and/or diverse, I highly recommend checking out the works of Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Becky Chambers, and Nnedi Okorafor, to name a few.

Happy Reading!

Judy Beaulume

Hello from a Beaufort Intern!

Hello everyone! Beaufort’s fourth spring intern checking in!

A little about me…

I was born and raised in West Michigan, where a love for snow is required and yearning for warmth is nearly always present. I have three younger siblings, one sister and two brothers, and incredibly supportive parents who have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams! In December of 2021, I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.S. in Political Science, and I am now, with great excitement, on a journey to establish a career in publishing!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an extreme passion for books. My happy place has always been curled up in my bed devouring a compelling novel. However, up until recently, I thought that my love for reading couldn’t be turned into a career, but instead, would forever remain a beloved hobby. I was set on a career in politics, but through multiple experiences, I realized that the political world isn’t where I’m meant to be. This realization sent me back to the theoretical career drawing board, and here I am now, eagerly exploring the publishing industry!

As far as books go, some of my favorites are Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert; and It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. I am a sucker for a story that makes you laugh, cry, and, most importantly, feel like you are living the lives of its characters. I want to bring more books like that into the world, which is why I am so excited and thankful that I get to learn about the book publishing process through my internship!

I can’t wait to see what these next few months at Beaufort hold, and I am eager to share my journey with you!

Until next time,

Beaulla Swan

Greetings!

Hello there! 

Another Beaufort intern here, under the nom-de-plume Catherine Beaushaw because Wuthering Heights is an exceptional classic that holds such a warm place in my heart. 

I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am to be interning at Beaufort this semester. Everyone here is so incredibly sweet, which makes complete sense because book people are simply the best. As for me, I’m a UCLA grad with a B.A. in Sociology currently living in sunny San Diego with my lovely cat and little poodle. When I’m not reading, you can find me rollerblading down the Mission Beach boardwalk or heading for a run along Sunset Cliffs. (I’m so grateful I got to grow up here!) 

It’s been my dream to break into book publishing for some time now. I’ve always been an avid reader, and I find such joy in discovering those books that truly speak to your heart. It’s why I want to be a part of the process of finding pieces that connect to other readers in that special way as well. I was working my way into the industry back in 2019, but my path took a little detour when the pandemic hit. Graduating into 2020 was, without a doubt, extremely tough. I had to put my dream of working with books to the side and focus on finding ways to support myself during that super crazy year. 

I was convinced I needed to give up on book publishing, but after a recent visit back to New York City, I felt inspired and decided to give my dream another shot. Lo and behold, I was given the amazing opportunity to intern at Beaufort Books. It’s my dream to eventually make the move from here in San Diego (although a gorgeous place to be) back to New York City to be amongst its neverending energy and all the fellow book lovers. Have you ever seen all the people reading books on the subway? I hope the NYC subway system continues to have absolutely terrible WiFi–that way, I’ll keep seeing people passing the time with a great book. Because reading is what connects us, brings us joy, and inspires change. 

I’m excited and incredibly hopeful for what the next couple of months have in store. 

Catherine Beaushaw

New Year, Same Pandemic

Hello everyone! 

My name is Beau Weasley, I am just one of Beaufort’s four new interns for the Spring! If you couldn’t already tell, I am a wildly huge Harry Potter fan. I’m a die-hard Ravenclaw (contrary to the name), and–although I’m reluctant to admit it–my patronus is a Salmon. I like to think it means I’m trustworthy, charismatic, a leader… Or it’s just a fish. Who’s to say? My graduation present to myself when I graduate is actually going to be a Harry Potter-inspired tattoo (I have 8 already). 

With that, I’m currently in my last year of graduate school, receiving my Master’s degree in Book Publishing this June! I graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in English and a minor in Film Production in May of 2020 (Yikes, I know.), and made the move to Oregon that September. I strongly do not recommend moving to a different state in the middle of a global pandemic–BUT! It was totally worth it. Starting in a new city, almost entirely isolated was a whole new ballgame I wasn’t completely ready for, but grad school was.

When I was sixteen, one of my high school teachers asked what I wanted to major in in college. I quickly responded, “English, probably, but I have no idea what I would do with that.” Her answer changed my life. Literally.

“What about something with book publishing?”

And that was my plan from that moment on. When I was studying abroad in Manchester, England my sophomore year of undergrad, I read a book that featured a main character who got her master’s in Book Publishing. I was so overwhelmed with excitement and passion because I had no idea that was even an option and did all the research I could to find out more.

Now, I’m in Oregon, and my plans are coming to an end, or, rather, being caught up with. My dream is to head east for a change and end up working for a bigger publishing company in New York, but real plans? Guess we’ll see.

Happy to have you here, and to be able to share my thoughts along the way!

Beau Weasley

Salutations!

Dear Readers,

Hello and Happy Lunar New Year! Judy BEAUlume here—one of Beaufort Books’ newest interns and an insatiable bibliophile!

A little about me: I’m originally from Dallas, Texas where I grew up with my wonderful parents, one younger brother, and many, many pets! Through the years, my family has had lizards, turtles, a cockatiel, a cat, a tarantula (rescued from our swimming pool), and many, many wonderful dogs. My love of reading started very young (thank you Mom!) and some of my favorite childhood series included Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan, and Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett!

Nowadays, I live in NYC where I work at a bookstore, intern with Beaufort Books, and read as many books on the subway as I possibly can! Some of my favorite authors include TJ Klune, Erin Morgenstern, Casey McQuiston, and Neil Gaiman. I’m currently finishing up the Poppy War Trilogy by R. F. Kuang which I highly recommend to anyone who loves history, fantasy, or Avatar the Last Airbender.

When I’m not reading, I also love watching animated movies/tv shows, doodling, listening to fictional podcasts (if you haven’t listened to The Magnus Archives, you absolutely should!), and taking dance classes! I strongly dislike asparagus, white chocolate, and when people don’t use the Oxford comma. I look forward to sharing all things Beaufort Books with you!

Until next time!

Judy BEAUlume