Beautyland

Ever feel like you're from a different planet, just trying to figure out how to be human? Imagine receiving instructions from outer space on how to navigate life, love, and belonging on Earth. This is the strange and wonderful reality for Adina, the protagonist of Beautyland. You'll follow Adina from her unusual childhood in Philadelphia to her career as a writer in New York, all while she secretly faxes reports on humanity back to her home planet. Discover a unique and poignant perspective on what it means to find your place in the universe, even when you feel like an outsider looking in.

Marie-Helene Bertino is an award-winning novelist whose work, including the acclaimed novel Parakeet, has been recognized by the National Book Foundation and The New York Times. Her writing often explores the surreal and sublime within everyday life, drawing from a rich background in storytelling and a fascination with how we construct our own realities. Bertino’s unique perspective, blending sharp wit with deep empathy, allows her to craft narratives that feel both otherworldly and profoundly human, as seen in Beautyland.