For the past couple of weeks, I have been struggling to find time to read, as well as find enjoyment in what I am reading. Often, I feel like I don’t have the time or energy to read because of how busy I am throughout the week. However, this makes the books I read and enjoy, all the more notable. 

“Dear Evan Hansen” by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul:

The novelization of the hit Broadway musical of the same name, this novel portrayed being a teenager making mistakes in a beautiful way. 

Evan Hansen is a senior in high school at the start of the story. That summer, he fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Evan has been struggling with anxiety and depression for the past few years. His mom asks him to interact more with the students around him this year by having them sign his cast. 

In doing so, he meets Connor Murphy, a fellow senior. Connor has always been seen as the ‘bad boy’ of the school, while his sister, Zoe is more of the perfect student. Evan, who has had a crush on Zoe for a couple years, has written a letter to himself about his crush on Zoe and the struggles of his mental health. When Connor sees it, he rushes from the room in a fit of anger, taking the letter with him. When Connor commits suicide, his parents find the letter and assume that Connor and Evan were friends, Evan, in a panic, agrees. The story progresses from there. 

I’ve always been a fan of the musical, so it was about time I read the novel. I thought it might be a slower read due to the topics it discusses, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quick of a read this was. By the end of the novel, I felt a connection to all the characters, whether they had a big or small role in the story. 

I really loved getting to see different lyrics and quotes from the musical being intertwined within the novel. It reminded me of why I love the story so much. However, at times, it felt cheesy and unnecessary to include them, as it didn’t add anything to the story other than a word count. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the message that it sends to all people, not just adolescents. With a relatable story and message for all to hear. 

“The Only Woman In The Room” by Marie Benedict: 

When I picked this book up off my bookshelf, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it. I just wanted to mark it as read and move on to the next book. But, I was shocked to discover that this novel would become one of my favorite books of the year. 

“The Only Woman In The Room” follows Hollywood actress, Hedy Lamarr before she became famous for her acting career. Before she became a well-known actress, she was a young bride to Friedrich (Fritz) Mandl.

Lamarr, also known as Hedwig Kiesler, was born in Austria and lived there with her husband during the years leading up to World War Two. While Mandl’s wife, she was subject to many conversations with important people in the political world. When she flees from her husband and begins her rise to Hollywood stardom, she realizes that the information she has gained could be vital to helping the war effort and fighting against Hitler. 

This story was everything. Hedy was a beautiful woman to read about. She was fearlessly independent and strong while having empathy for everyone around her. There were many times I had to remind myself that this was a true story and not just a piece of literature. To see Hedy go through what she went through and to see the world during the time of the war was heart wrenching to see. There were many times throughout this novel that I would find myself tearing up at the injustice that innocent Jewish people faced. 

Even though this story has its very harrowing and difficult moments, the story doesn’t dwell on just that. There is also a focus on finding the good things when the world is a mess. Hedy doesn’t let these horrible issues and war stop her from fighting for what she believes in and doing everything in her power to help her people. 

But, the most important note about Hedy is that she wasn’t just an actress trying to help the war effort. Hedy Lamarr was an inventor and created the “Secret Communications System,” which would keep enemies from being able to decode messages being sent. These systems would later be vital in creating the technology that we use today, particularly, our phones. 

I love this novel. Not just because of the reality of the story, but because I felt like I truly knew Hedy Lamarr and the world she lived in. Hedy is an inspiration that anybody should feel honored to learn from. The unspoken genius of the world we live in today.