Books to Inspire: November 2025

All Adults Here 

By Emma Straub

Emma Straub’s “All Adults Here” is a warm and witty novel about family in all its non-traditional forms. When matriarch Astrid Strick witnesses a tragic accident, she begins re-examining her past choices, her relationships with her three adult children, and the kind of legacy she wants to leave.

Through Astrid’s late-in-life same-sex relationship, her children’s struggles as parents, and her granddaughter’s search for belonging, Straub highlights blended families, LGBTQ+ love, intergenerational bonds, and the challenges of breaking from tradition.

The Strick family is far from perfect—messy, flawed, and often at odds—but their story reminds us that love and resilience aren’t found in following rules but in forgiveness and authenticity.

“All Adults Here” is a heartfelt, funny, and timely celebration of the many ways families grow, fracture, and come together again.

Named a New York Times bestseller, “All Adults Here” by Emma Straub was published in 2020 by Riverhead Books. A copy is available in the Neilson Hays Library’s nonfiction section.

And Tango Makes Three

Written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; and illustrated by Henry Cole

“And Tango Makes Three” is a beautiful, heartwarming story that redefines what it means to be a family. Based on a true story from the Central Park Zoo, the book follows Roy and Silo, two male penguins who long to nurture a chick of their own. With the help of a caring zookeeper, they are given an egg, and soon baby Tango completes their family.

The story is tenderly told and paired with charming illustrations, making it approachable for young readers while carrying a powerful message: love, care, and commitment are what truly make a family. It challenges traditional definitions and shows children that families can take many shapes, all equally valid and beautiful.

This book is a perfect way to spark conversations about inclusivity, compassion, and the many forms family can take.

“And Tango Makes Three” was first published in 2005 by Simon & Schuster. It is available in the children’s section of Neilson Hays Library.

Prepared by Kit Lang @mskitlang. The Neilson Hays Library is Thailand’s premier English-language library. The Children's Program offers Saturday Story Time, a cozy Children's Corner, and special holiday events. Adult Programs include concerts, art exhibitions, book clubs, and book sales. Located in a UNESCO-awarded historic building with a garden and cafe on site: 195 Surawong Road, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.