A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York by Liana Finck

With an influx of Eastern Europeans, particularly Jews, immigrating to the United States in the early 1900s, New York City became a melting pot of language, culture, and tradition. For the ever-growing population of Eastern European Jews, whose language was predominantly Yiddish (a mix of German and Hebrew), The Jewish Daily Forward became their lifeline to the world. Published in Yiddish, this paper focused on politics, social issues, and even had an advice column.

Long before Dear Abby's column, The Jewish Daily Forward anonymously published readers' letters asking for advice on topics ranging from marriage to family to religion as these new immigrants assimilated in the United States. These letters were featured in a portion of the paper referred to as the bintel brief, or a bundle of letters.

A Bintel Brief by Liana Finck is a graphic novel retelling of actual letters submitted to the Jewish Daily Forward. From a concerned woman who believes her neighbor stole her watch to a more acculturated woman who is ashamed of her recently immigrated husband, Finck does a wonderful job creating the dialogue and illustrations. Following the brief explanation of the letter is an abbreviated version of the advice offered in the paper upon publication.

With a throw back to nostalgia, Finck's graphic novel is enough to transport you back to a simpler time.

Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley

Sisters Cassie and Sid have been close all of their life, but now Cassie lives in New York City and Sid lives in Singapore. The sisters have gone down different paths--Cassie is a social medial loving, busy mom to twin boys, who is struggling to keep the spark lit in her marriage. Sid is the mother to two kids, is a bit of a free spirit, and is also having difficulties in her marriage. When the sisters are together over the holidays, Sid suggests they stay in touch the old fashioned way, by exchanging handwritten letters.

For both sisters, exchanging letters has become a sort of cathartic, eye-opening experience. Filled with confessions, advice, and sisterly bonding, the letter writing project has had more of an impact on Cassie and Sid than they ever imagined...including, thanks to Cassie's lapse in judgement, their letters posted on a blog for all of the world to see.

Lisa Beazley's first book, Keep Me Posted, is a hilarious read for anyone who has ever had a sister and has experienced first hand the trust shared between sisters.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

One day during her usual intense spin cycle class, Alice falls off her bike and hits her head. When she wakes up, life as she knows it has completely changed. Alice thinks she's still twenty-nine, married to her long term boyfriend, and pregnant with her first child. Completely confused, Alice finds it difficult to believe that ten years have passed, in which time she's almost forty, is currently separated from her husband, and has three very unique children. Her life is in an utter state of chaos. Imagine her surprise when the doctors tell her that she must reconstruct the memories from the last decade. Not only does she have to try to remember her children, but she has to figure out why her sister will barely talk to her, what could have possibly happened to have her marriage crumble, and exactly why she's turned out to be the mom and wife she never wanted to be. Completely bewildered, Alice has her work cut out for her.

Covering a wide array of topics from divorce to infertility to death, Lianne Moriarty's What Alice Forgot does not shy away from these difficult topics, all while providing an often humorous look at life.

The Dinner Party by Brenda Janowitz

Sylvia Gold epitomizes the stereotypical overbearing Jewish mother. She clearly wants what's best for her three children, even if it often means meddling in their lives. So when she finds out that her youngest daughter is dating a Rothschild, only one of the wealthiest banking families in all of New York City, Sylvia can't help but throw a Seder, or the traditional meal served at the start of Passover, in the hopes of making a good impression.

After inviting the whole family, including her less than favorite soon to be son-in-law and his overly dramatic mother Italian mother and Sylvia's son casually drops by from Sri Lanka, with his black girlfriend, the peaceful traditions of the Seder have gone out the window. Chaos, jealousy, and family secrets become the topic of discussion for both the Golds and the Rothschilds. Can both of the families look past their differences and repair the things that divide them?

Brenda Janowitz's The Dinner Party resonates with any reader who has had to endure family functions where things often go awry, yet it's nearly impossible to laugh at the family you're a part of.