If you live in the corridor you’re likely already familiar with Books & Books, a local indie darling and community icon for its celebration of all things books and books related, but – with the hot and hazy days of summer stretching out ahead of you – a reminder to take advantage of its stellar author event series, presented in air-conditioned comfort, may be in order.
While there is a Books & Books in Aventura, with one exception the following events will be held at its Coral Gables outpost, located at 265 Aragon Ave., and all are worth the drive. These events are all free, but you must RSVP at BooksAndBooks.com to attend.
Family Secrets & Supernatural Scares
(Flatiron Books)
New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert is back with “Our Crooked Hearts: A Novel,” a tale of long-kept secrets, the supernatural and a mother-daughter reckoning described by Publishers Weekly as “both spellbinding and bingeworthy” and by Kirkus as “riveting, creepy and utterly bewitching.” Leading the conversation will be Miami-bred YA fave Romina Garber, author of the critically lauded Zodiac series. Thursday, July 7; discussion at 7 p.m. with a book signing immediately after.
Jersey Boy
Part coming-of-age story, part love story and part thriller, Fabio Alberto Hurtado’s How to Destroy an Eclipse and Other Tales of Redemption: The Jersey Years is a fictionalized memoir set in the late 1980s and mid-1990s that’s a celebration of friendship, an account of first love and – most importantly – an apology for leaving the people you grew up with behind. Brimming with wit and wisdom, it is a testament to the power of love, friendship and family, as well as a tale of spiritual and personal survival. Tuesday, July 12; discussion at 7 p.m. with a book signing immediately after.
Meet Your Kids’ Fave Author
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher and a New York Times bestselling author of 36 books for children and young adults, including the Newbery medal-winning “The Crossover” and its follow-up, “Booked.” Alexander’s latest graphic novel, “Booked” tells the story of 12-year-old soccer player Nick, who’s grappling with a bully, his first serious crush and problems at home. Hailed by critics who called it “emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway,” “a satisfying, winning read” and a “powerful story that will leave the reader breathless right to the very end,” an evening with “Booked” and the prolific and popular Alexander will be an evening well spent. Tuesday, July 19; discussion at 6 p.m. with a book signing immediately after.
Breathe In, Breathe Out
(Books & Books)
What is mindfulness? How does one get started? And how does one find time for it? In “Literary Pause: An Introduction to the Practice of Mindfulness,” Rosi Lozada explores the answers to these questions by sharing formal and informal mindfulness practices associated with an increased ability to focus, listen, sleep restfully and enjoy a more satisfying relationship with yourself and others. No experience necessary; skeptics especially welcome! Lozada, a professor at FIU College of Law and a mindfulness facilitator, will also share recommended reads the topic. Wednesday, July 20, at 7 p.m.; at Books & Books’ Coconut Grove location, 3409 Main Highway.
Decadence & Deception
New York Times bestselling author Jane Green reimagines the story of troubled real-life icon Talitha Getty with Sister Stardust: A Novel, a transporting tale from a forgotten chapter of the Swinging ’60s. From afar Talitha’s life seems perfect. In her twenties and already a famous model and actress, she moves from London to a palace in Marrakesh with her oil heir husband, Paul Getty. There she presides over a dizzying expat scene filled with music, art, free love and a counterculture taking root across the world. But beneath Talitha’s glamorous facade lurks a darkness few can understand, and new kindred spirit Claire – a small-town girl who has just joined the never-ending party – may be claimed as its victim. Joining Green will be author and journalist Rachel Felder, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker and Vogue. Friday, July 22; discussion at 7 p.m. with a book signing immediately after.
Explore the entire Books & Books events schedule at BooksAndBooks.com/events.
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(Clarion Books)
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(Termino Editorial)
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(Hanover Square Press)