Emma

“And then, God help me, on my first morning, in the first few minutes of my first morning, I felt that this alien northern countryside was friendly, that I’d turned a corner and that this summer of 1920, which was to smoulder on until the first leaves fell, was to be a propitious season of living, a blessed time.
I told myself that I didn’t care how long the job took me – what was left of July, August, September, even October. I was going to be happy, live simply, spend as little as paraffin, bread, vegetables and a bit of bully-beef now and then might cost me.”
― J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country

“People like to remember childhood as all magic and no responsibilities, but that’s not really how it is. You have absolutely no control over your environment. It all comes down to the adults in your life, and . . . I don’t know. Every time Libby has a new kid, it’s like there’s this magic house in my heart that rearranges to make a new room for the baby. “And it always hurts. It’s terrifying. One more person who needs you.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers

“We understand what it's like to grieve with fire and not tears.”
― Hafsah Faizal, A Tempest of Tea

“You would be the greatest ruler the world has ever known. You won’t be able to help it. Your term as empress would be the candle burning brightest just before darkness consumed all—and I am not exaggerating when I tell you, it quite literally would.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Farilane