man-woman relationship

"In this collection comprised of fifteen . . . stories . . . [Margaret] Atwood speaks to our times with her characteristic wit and intellect. Of special significance are the seven works revolving around the long-term married couple Tig and Nell. Acting as bookends for the collection, these stories look deeply in the heart of what it means to spend a life together, with the four stories in Part I relating tales from their married life, and the three stories at the end showing Nell's reality in the aftermath of Tig's death. In other works, two sisters grapple with loss and memory in 'Old Babes in the Wood'; 'Impatient Griselda' reprises the folkloric role of Griselda in Bocaccio's The Decameron, exploring alienation and miscommunication; and 'Evil Mother' touching on the fantastical, examining a mother-daughter relationship in which the mother purports to be a witch"--Provided by publisher.

"In the follow up to MISFIT, New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy takes us back to Sandover Prep where the bourgeoning relationship between Casey Tresscott and Fenn Bishop is the talk of the school. But as secrets from the past emerge, Casey decides she's tired of being taken advantage of and takes matters into her own hands. While Fenn thought keeping the truth from her was the right thing to do, he wasn't prepared for how he would feel when she goes rogue"--.

On 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love. Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet, partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York, and Ethan Green is picking out a ring for the woman who showed him how to be happy again after the death of his wife.

"When Hanako loses a cherished memento, Taro finds himself out in the cold as he pulls out all the wrong stops to try and find a happy resolution. Narumi and Hirotaka offer what support they can while deepening their own relationship, but their help can only go so far... As for Naoya and Ko, perceptive onlookers nudge the pair to close what little distance remains between them, but will they get the hints?"--Back cover.

"Frustrated with the slow pace of their relationship, Hirotaka asks Narumi on a real date, with one critical stipulation: they can't show their otaku sides at all! Can the two find something to bond over in the absence of games, manga, and anime? Meanwhile, Hanako and Taro revisit the origins of their own tempestuous relationship back when they were in high school, and even Naoya seems to be spending more time with a new friend!"--Back cover.

"In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person's greatest sorrow. But as with all things that offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning. Every wish demands a price. Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most: a chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong. Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign, Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time--hope. But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape . . . that of the dragonfruit itself"--Provided by publisher.

"Once upon a time, two kingdoms, one rich in gold, the other rich in water, shared a border. The two nations were always fighting until an agreement was struck: the most beautiful girl in the gold kingdom would marry the smartest man in the water kingdom, binding the two nations together. However, both sides tried to renege on the deal by sending animals instead! Sarah, a low-level princess, is selected to wed the man from the water kingdom, but is sent a puppy in place of a groom! Meanwhile, the candidate from the water kingdom, Naranbayar, is saddled with a kitten!"--Provided by publisher.

"Armed with talismans, including an enchanted jacket that gets people to do anything, a baseball bat that fixes anything it breaks and a manifestation stone that makes anyone fall in love, Rosie, her older sister Caro and Zeke find their lives intertwined in magical and hilarious ways"--Provided by publisher.

"Melphiera Marchalrayd is misunderstood by the peerage and is called the 'Voracious Villainess' for taking delight in monster meat. Likewise, Aristide is known as the 'Blood-Mad Duke' for his fierce hunting skills. After a monstrous rendezvous, Aristide has fallen in love at first sight with the fearless Melphiera and has asked for her hand in marriage. Of course, one must not forget to bestow proper gifts in a noble courtship, so Aristide has arrived with a rare golden-fleeced royal moodle in tow! But what exactly goes into butchering this fine monster? And will Aristide truly proceed with the engagement?"--Back cover.

"Viola Reyes is annoyed. Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more 'likable,' and her school's star running back, Jack Orsino, is the most lackadaisical student body president she's ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi's favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren't exactly kind to girls like her--girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself. But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos--Cesario and Duke Orsino--are surprisingly well-matched. As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realize they've become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline"--Provided by publisher.