Books questioning identity:

Dark Matter | by Blake Crouch

Summary:
In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe. Dark Matter is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we think we deserve.

Gush Sesh:
Introspection is a favorite theme of mine. Offering infinite worlds on which to possibly exist, this story rocks the multiple facets of the ‘what defines me’ question. Are we the sum of our memories, the actions we take, our goals and achievements not yet realized? Which one of ME am I: the child that got born to my parents, the summary of my experiences and thoughts, a conscious desire to improve or advance, my worst habits and addictions? How would you react if thrown off your usual world into another very much like it?

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Horns | by Joe Hill

Summary:
Ignatius “Ig” Parrish thought he was in purgatory after the death of his childhood love Merrin, the woman he would have proposed to but for that awful break up hours before her unsolved murder. Now he’s manifesting the real signs of purgatory through a pair of horns growing out of his brow. And people are telling him their most intimate of secrets. Can he use this power to find the guilty and bring justice to Merrin before he’s arrested (or killed) for the murder he THINKS he didn’t do? 

Gush Sesh:
Much as I love Joe Hill’s other work, this one specifically scared me! It wasn’t the murder mystery or the supernatural action or the obsessive and jealous surrounding characters that frightened me. It was Ig’s devolution into the heady righteousness of being bad. When one IS evil, what’s stopping you? Merrin is my favorite unfinished character – she should have lived and had decades of excitement and adventure. Alas… her useless and violent death makes for a great start into Ig’s mental and moral breakdown.

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Dhampir | by Barb and J C Hendee

Summary:
Magiere has earned a reputation as the most formidable vampire slayer in the land. Villagers far and wide welcome her with both awe and disdain—grateful to her for ridding their towns of the undead menace, but finding themselves made poorer for their salvation. Magiere knows she’s dealing with simple folk, who only wish to have their superstitions silenced, and sees nothing wrong with exploiting them for profit. But what if her superior senses and abilities are really put to the test? Encountering authentic and lethal vampires wasn’t part of the plan. 

Gush Sesh:
Another series I return to consistently, Dhampir is the starting off point for a unique universe of magic and mayhem with a supernatural bent. More like Dungeons & Dragons than a historically accurate depiction of our world, this fantasy includes other races, folk, myths, and settings in addition to the mysteries it offers. When you’ve been in the con business too long, how do you get out? Buy a pub and try to go straight (not as easy as it sounds)! 

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The Face on the Milk Carton | by Caroline B. Cooney

Summary:
No one ever really paid close attention to the faces of the missing children on the milk cartons. But as Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl with her hair in tight pigtails, wearing a dress with a narrow white collar—a three-year-old who had been kidnapped twelve years before from a shopping mall in New Jersey—she felt overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl—it was she. Who is Janie Johnson and what really happened?

Gush Sesh:
Remember that this was written several decades ago, pre-advent of cell phones, etc., and you can be forgiving about the date-ed-ness of this story. A common child’s fear is that they do not belong to their family. Janie discovers the real possibility of different origins for herself and travels down an investigative road to the unfamiliar truth. What if we came from different parents? Does that change who we are?

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Fangirl | by: Rainbow Rowell

Summary:
The whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life–and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Entering college, Wren announces that she doesn’t want to be half of the pair of identical twins any more – she wants to room with someone else, anyone else. Cath feels abandoned, is stunned by the disappointingly narrow viewpoint of her favorite instructor, frets about getting along with her sullen roommate, and worries about her family members to the point of distraction. Freshman year is hard enough when you’ve got strong coping skills! 

Gush Sesh:
This contemporary young adult novel is geared for those who want to read about a college freshman’s experience, but can handle serious issues like alcohol abuse, social anxiety, and sexual manipulation. Cath is not your everyday Mary Sue – she’s got flaws and makes some poor decisions, but she’s definitely the heroine in this challenging world. The story within a story that created Simon Snow has resulted in its own fictional series (Carry On & Wayward Son) by Rowell, and the next installment comes out later in 2021 (Any Way the Wind Blows)!