The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

Lyra finds herself in another world, this one known as Cittagazze, where Spectres haunt the streets, hunting for adults or those nearing adulthood, and the distant beat of angel wings can be heard in the air. There she meets Will Parry, fleeing from his world after taking another's life, and they become allies. As they move from one realm to another, nearing their destiny, they discover a weapon with extraordinary and fearsome power. 

370 pages. Book #2 in the His Dark Materials trilogy. 

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Lyra is seeking hurried passage to the freezing North, land of witch clans and armored bears, where her friend Roger has been taken hostage by Gobblers. Her brilliant, formidable uncle is also far North, attempting to build a bridge to a parallel world. There is a link between all the children who have suddenly disappeared and this bridge, and only Lyra can put a stop to all of it. 

399 pages. Book #1 in the His Dark Materials trilogy. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
 

Pages: 364