Booktrib’s BookBites

Facing Life’s Obstacles With Two Works of Fiction and Two Poignant Memoirs

“Feels Like Falling” by Kristy Woodson Harvey

(NAPSI)—You’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her evangelical husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Right when Gray Howard could use some good karma, she inadvertently gets a stranger fired from her job at the local pharmacy.

Hours before losing her job, Diana Harrington broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their house. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guesthouse and a guilty conscience.

With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn, but when the one that got away comes back, secrets from her past seem to resurface.

In her warmest, wittiest and wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. From Gallery Books, purchase at https://amzn.to/345EWhC.

“That’s Not A Thing” by Jacqueline Friedland

Meredith Altman’s engagement to Wesley Latner ended in spectacular disaster—one that shattered her completely. Years have passed since then and now she’s about to marry Aaron Rapp, a former Ivy League football player and baby-saving doctor. As they celebrate their engagement at a new TriBeCa hotspot, Meredith is stunned to find the restaurant owner is none other than Wesley, the man she is still secretly trying to forget.

When Meredith learns that Wesley has been diagnosed with ALS, her feelings about their past become all the more confusing. As she spends more time with Wesley, she discovers what kind of man her new fiancé really is—and what kind of woman she wants to be. From SparkPress, purchase at https://amzn.to/2Gz8Qk7.

“Once a Girl, Always a Boy” by Jo Ivester

Jeremy Ivester is a transgender man. Thirty years ago, his parents welcomed him into the world as what they thought was their daughter. They called him a tomboy. That’s what he called himself.

“Once a Girl, Always a Boy” is Ivester’s journey from childhood through coming out as transgender and eventually emerging as an advocate for the transgender community. This is not only his story but that of his family. It is a tale of acceptance in a world not quite ready to accept. From She Writes Press, purchase at https://amzn.to/2S44fvt.

“I’m Still Here” by Martina Reaves

In 1969, at age 20, Martina Reaves moved to San Francisco. She lived in a commune, married her hippie streetcar driver, and moved away from the city—first to Mendocino County, OR, and then to the Virgin Islands. In 1980, Reaves came out. She found her life partner, Tanya, at work, and in 1986 they had a son, Cooper.

In 2008, Reaves was diagnosed with serious tongue cancer. Her journey in the aftermath of this diagnosis is one of hope, fear, family, friendship, perseverance, and learning to live with a terminal diagnosis. Reaves braids these strands of her life together in “I’m Still Here,” presenting readers with a nuanced, poignant exploration of what it means to live—and love—authentically. Purchase at
https://amzn.to/33Bi2yR.

*BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. For more reading ideas, visit BookTrib.com and subscribe to the weekly newsletter.

“Readers can discover intriguing ways to face life’s obstacles with two works of fiction and two poignant memoirs: “Feels Like Falling,” by Kristy Woodson Harvey; “That’s Not A Thing,” by Jacqueline Friedland; “Once a Girl, Always a Boy” by Jo Ivester; andhttps://bit.ly/2YjsmuU