In My Face in the Light by Martha Schabas (Knopf Canada, 2022), Justine is approaching a milestone birthday, and when she faces disappointment on a trip to London, she reflects on her life in Toronto, her relationships, her emotional damage, and a scar — the aftermath of an accident. Schabas’s skilful structure and her ability to transport the reader through her vignettes makes this “finding yourself” prose appropriate for any age.

I've only recently started using makeup, so it intrigues me how some influencers have made a living around beauty tutorials. Centred around a love for makeup, Made-Up: A True Story of Beauty Culture Under Late Capitalism (Coach House Books, 2021) is a personal look into ourselves and society's preoccupation with retail, online influencers, and social media. Daphne B. draws a critical portrait of the sometimes-superficial world we're immersed in and the impact it has on influencing our vulnerable lives. Whether you're a Sephora fiend or not, this book is a fantastic reflection on society today.  

Eileen Pollack is a '60s child. She grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in a small town in the Catskill Mountains. Maybe it's Me: On Being the Wrong Kind of Woman (Delphinium Books, 2022) is a collection of 16 clever and funny essays that stand alone but can be strung together to form a memoir, beginning at her life from age three. She was smarter than her peers at school, she was a woman in a primarily masculine science program in college, and her marriage ended in divorce. Yet, despite her accomplishments, all she ever wanted was to fit in. 

In She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2022), Alex and Molly are both freshmen (rather, freshwomen) in college. Alex needs Molly to help prove to her girlfriend how loyal she is, and Molly could use Alex's help winning over her love interest. But as they realize they have more in common, they grow and transform together. It's a fun, engaging, easy read that flows smoothly.