Amanda

Pure is like THE ROAD meets A HANDMAID'S TALE meets Resident Evil. It's bleak, gritty, paranoid (in a fun way) with sophisticated writing. The protagonist is a teenage girl but the material is fairly dark, so this makes an excellent crossover book for someone used to YA who wants to venture into more mature material.

The Night Circus is Erin Morgenstern's first novel, but it's free of the cloying earnestness common to some debuts. It concerns two magicians trapped in a duel they did not volunteer to participate in, and the theater for their competition is a magical circus that only appears at night. The Night Circus itself is the real main character of the book. It's the most atmospheric and imaginative book I read all year, complete with a satisfying romance and an early 1900's Parisian feel that Morgenstern paints beautifully.

Jane Austen fans will huzzah when they discover this guide to Austen's real world. It has step-by-step instructions on how to navigate Regency England, should you ever find yourself suddenly transported thither. Learn how to throw a dinner party, play at cards, attend a fancy ball and refuse a proposal (unless it's from Mr. Tilney, in which case WHY ARE YOU REFUSING).