There’s something really special about sharing a book you love, especially when that purchase also gives back. When you shop from Big Reuse’s Bookshop.org page, 30% of every purchase goes toward Big Reuse, helping us make an impact on NYC communities! Our environmental, community-based programs include community composting, curbside composting outreach, street tree care, tree planting, reuse, and youth engagement projects across New York City. We operate two Reuse Center thrift stores - one in Gowanus and one in Bushwick, two mid-scale composting sites, and many other volunteer and educational programs. Our Bookshop.org page highlights stories that reflect the values at the heart of our work, along with seasonal reads, staff favorites, and thoughtful recommendations you can feel good about supporting.
This month, we’ve added a new genre to our curated list. While love is a common thread throughout these stories, many of these books also center on resilience, transformation, and characters finding their strength in unexpected ways. We’ve also added new titles to our existing collections. Below, you’ll find a preview of our books with brief summaries of each pick. We hope you enjoy discovering them as much as we did.
Love in All its Forms:
This hockey romance follows two professional rivals whose on-ice competition turns into a secret passionate, years-long relationship. What starts as physical tension slowly becomes deeper on both sides. Both rivals are struggling with identity, vulnerability, and public scrutiny. Across multiple seasons, cities, and time frames, the story captures how love can grow even when it is hidden.
Her Spell that Binds Me by Luna Oblonsky
This fantasy romance centers on a powerful bond between two women connected by magic, destiny, and choice. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate spells, secrets, and the consequence of wielding power together. The story blends intimacy with mysticism, showing how love can be both grounding and transformative. It is a tender, emotional look at connection in a world shaped by magic.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
A retelling of Greek mythology focusing on the love between Achilles and Patroclus, told through Patroclus's voice. Their bond grows from childhood friendship into deep devotion against the backdrop of war and prophecy. This novel goes between intimate moments and heartbreak, showing how love can be both grounding and devastating all at once. A timeless story readers will not forget.
Winter Cozy Reads:
Set in 1920s Alaska, this quiet, magical story follows a childless couple who build a snow child that seems to come to life. As winter settles in, hope and mystery blend into their isolated world. The novel explores loneliness, belief, and the healing power of imagination. It feels like a modern fairy tale wrapped in snow.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
This novel weaves together past and present through the story of a secret apothecary who once helped women poison abusive men. When a modern day woman uncovers the apothecary’s history, long buried truths begin to surface. The book blends mystery, history, and quiet rebellion. It is a story about justice, agency, and women reclaiming their power.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones
This whimsical fantasy follows Sophie, who is cursed into old age and finds refuge in a magical moving castle. Inside, she meets the charming and unpredictable wizard Howl. The story mixes humor, magic, and unexpected romance. It is cozy, clever, and full of heart.
Reclaiming the Myth:
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Inspired by Eastern European folklore, this novel follows three women whose lives become entangled with magic and power. Each must learn to claim her voice in a world that underestimates her. The story explores wealth, responsibility, and transformation. It is a bold reimagining of fairy tales centered on women’s strength.
This retelling of the Ramayana reclaims the story of Kaikeyi, often painted as a villain in traditional versions. The novel explores her life, choices, and ambition from her own perspective. It challenges ideas of morality, duty, and womanhood. The result is a powerful story about agency and rewriting inherited narratives.
There are many other meaningful ways to support Big Reuse’s work happening across the city too! You can volunteer with Big Reuse’s community composting program, helping turn food scraps and yard waste into compost, join one of our Street Tree Care events to care for the trees that make our neighborhoods greener and more livable, donate materials to one of our Big Reuse thrift stores - including clothing, shoes, books, appliances, furniture and more (note we have different guidelines for items accepted at our Gowanus and Bushwick locations) - and make a monetary donation to Big Reuse.
Written by NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra