Ash Perez discusses 3 books that bring together comedy and heartbreak, and that balance nostalgia with hope for the future.

pre-order Ash's delightful new rom-com audiobook "Speak Now" (available March 31, 2026) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Speak-Now/Ash-Perez/9781668117927?utm_campaign=speak-now_ash-perez_audio&utm_content=audio_buy_link&utm_medium=audio_author_outlet&utm_source=author_outlet#buy-from

Ash's website: https://www.ashperez.com/

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books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing books through these links, you support local bookstores, and I earn a (very small) commission.

"Heartburn" by Nora Ephron https://bookshop.org/a/120498/9780679767954

"Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit https://bookshop.org/a/120498/9780312369811

"Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh https://bookshop.org/a/120498/9781451666175

"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton https://bookshop.org/a/120498/9780142407332

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The Q2 Ballot o' Books (vote for these on Patreon for free):

• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

• White Teeth by Zadie Smith

• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

• The Overstory by Richard Powers

• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

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