“Imagine having a mother who worries that you read too much. The question is, what is it that’s supposed to happen to people who read too much? How can you tell when someone’s crossed the line.” – Helen Oyeyemi, Boy, Snow, Bird
American Spirits by Russell Banks
fiction.
A husband sells property to a mysterious, temperamental stranger, and is hounded on social media when he publicly questions the man’s character. A couple grows concerned when an enigmatic family moves next door, and the children start sneaking over to beg for help. Two dangerous criminals kidnap an elderly couple and begin blackmailing their grandson, demanding that he pay back what he owes.
Suspenseful, thrilling, and expertly crafted, American Spirits explores the hostile undercurrents of our communities and American politics at large, as well as the ways local tragedies can be both devastating and, somehow, everyday. Ushering the reader through the town of Sam Dent, Russell Banks has etched yet another brilliant entry into the bedrock of American fiction.
“Russell Banks has always been a master at elevating the small calamities of everyday American life into full-blown tragedy, revealing all the dark ways our grief and despair can spill into something larger, more menacing, than we ever imagined.” – Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub
“…elegant… As ever, the reader senses the confidence in Banks’s narrative voice. This is a welcome addition to the legacy of a master storyteller.” – Publishers Weekly
“Banks’s stories are about fragile, everyday people whom, despite their resilience and strength, life still manages to break. An imaginatively constructed novel from a late master storyteller.” – Donna Bettencourt, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez ★
fiction / historical fiction / mystery.
1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.
But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.
“An uncompromising message, delivered via a gripping story with two engaging heroines.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Part campus novel, part ghost story, Xochitl Gonzalez’s second novel fearlessly takes on racism and misogyny in the rarefied world of fine art and art history… Anita de Monte Laughs Last boldly questions the choices behind what we are taught and demands that the complete story be disclosed.” – BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“…this rollicking page-turner from the bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming includes of-the-moment commentary about who succeeds and why.” – Real Simple
“In addition to the intrigue generated by Raquel’s search for answers about de Monte’s death, Gonzalez crafts excoriating and whip-smart commentary on the art world’s Eurocentric conceptions of beauty and the racism faced by first-generation students of color. This is incandescent. ” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
fiction / historical fiction.
From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.
Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.
As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.
“Fans of codebreakers, spies, and Cold War dramas will be entrapped by Reay’s tale of courage, love, and honor set against the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall.” – Candace Smith, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Watching the story unfold through her father’s letters, particularly since Luisa never knew about it, evokes powerful emotions… a sobering look at the impact of the Wall during its 28-year existence… a fantastic slice of historical fiction.” – Amy Wilson, Novels Alive
Bite Your Friends: Stories of the Body Militant by Fernanda Eberstadt
nonfiction / memoir / history.
“I bite my friends to heal them.” – Diogenes the Cynic, c. 350 BCE
From a Roman amphitheater where 4th century martyrs are fed to wild beasts to the S&M leather bars of New York in the 1970s, this sinuous and illuminating book by novelist and cultural critic Fernanda Eberstadt explores the lives of uncommonly brave men and women—saints, philosophers, artists–who have used their own wounded or stigmatized bodies to challenge society’s mores and entrenched power structures.
The Greek Cynic philosopher Diogenes who lived “a dog’s life,” sleeping, teaching, having sex in the public square; Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, two early Christian martyrs; twentieth-century prophets of bodily freedom like filmmaker-poet Pier Paolo Pasolini and philosopher Michel Foucault; Russian punk feminist group P—y Riot; the political artist Piotr Pavlensky, who nailed his scrotum to the pavement of Red Square to protest Vladimir Putin’s tyranny; these are the outrageous, uncommon, but deeply committed activists featured through original interviews and careful case studies in Eberstadt’s immensely readable book, which is part political treatise, part manifesto, part memoir.
Running through her narrative of the Body Militant is Eberstadt’s own story and the story of her mother, a New York writer and glamor figure of the 1960s, whose illness-scarred body first led Eberstadt to seek connections between beauty, belief, and the truths taught through the body.
Eberstadt asks crucial questions for our time: what drives certain individuals to risk pain, disgrace, even death, in the name of freedom? And, what can we learn from their example to become braver ourselves?
“[A] fascinating romp through eras and across individuals, providing more than a little insight as well as any number of places to branch out for further study.” – Frank Valish, Under the Radar
“[A] studious meditation… The diverse stories of Eberstadt’s subjects illuminate the complex ways in which bodies can constitute contested political terrain. Incisive and philosophical, this intrigues.” – Publishers Weekly
“Melding memoir and history, Eberstadt’s Bite Your Friends looks at the lives of saints, philosophers, and artists—including the author and her mother—whose abberant bodies became sites of subversion and rebellion. From Diogenes to P—y Riot, Eberstadt asks what it means to put our bodies on the line, and how our bodies can liberate us.” – Sophia M. Stewart, The Millions
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering ★
fiction / suspense / mystery.
On a brisk fall night in a New York apartment, 35-year-old Billie West hears terrified screams. It’s her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she’s just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. Billie is shaken as she looks down into her own arms to see the baby, remembering—with a jolt of fear—that she is responsible for the kidnapping that has instantly shattered Cassie’s world.
Once fiercely bonded by their secrets, Cassie and Billie have drifted apart in adulthood, no longer the inseparable pair they used to be in their small Hudson Valley hometown. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a lifestyle influencer. She is desperate to leave her past behind—including Billie, who is single and childless, and no longer fits into her world. But Billie knows the worst thing Cassie has ever done, and she will do whatever it takes to restore their friendship…
Told in alternating perspectives in Lovering’s signature suspenseful style, Bye, Baby confronts the myriad ways friendships change and evolve over time, the lingering echoes of childhood trauma, and the impact of women’s choices on their lifelong relationships.
“The suspense is a shapeshifter until the very last page.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist
“Tell Me Lies made me a Carola Lovering fan, and she has not disappointed since. Bye, Baby is as dark and thrilling as ever and may be my favorite work she’s ever done.” – Kailey Fox, Indie Next
“With alternating perspectives that promise cliffhangers at the end of each point of view, Bye, Baby is a complex and relatable story about the unspoken promises we tie ourselves to in friendships, and how those promises shape the lives we lead and the decisions we make for the rest of time.” – Feathered Quill Book Reviews
“[An] unflinching look at the fragility and dangers of female friendships… Told in alternating perspectives, Bye, Baby travels back in time to unspool the complicated dynamics between these two women, and then forward again to explore the aftershocks of a split-second decision that threatens to destroy them both. I found it all totally riveting!” – Greer Hendricks, Book of the Month
The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft ★
fiction / mystery / comedy.
Eight translators arrive at a house in a primeval Polish forest on the border of Belarus. It belongs to the world-renowned author Irena Rey, and they are there to translate her magnum opus, Gray Eminence. But within days of their arrival, Irena disappears without a trace.
The translators, who hail from eight different countries but share the same reverence for their beloved author, begin to investigate where she may have gone while proceeding with work on her masterpiece. They explore this ancient wooded refuge with its intoxicating slime molds and lichens and study her exotic belongings and layered texts for clues. But doing so reveals secrets-and deceptions-of Irena Rey’s that they are utterly unprepared for. Forced to face their differences as they grow increasingly paranoid in this fever dream of isolation and obsession, soon the translators are tangled up in a web of rivalries and desire, threatening not only their work but the fate of their beloved author herself.
This hilarious, thought-provoking debut novel is a brilliant examination of art, celebrity, the natural world, and the power of language. It is an unforgettable, unputdownable adventure with a small but global cast of characters shaken by the shocks of love, destruction, and creation in one of Europe’s last great wildernesses.
“[A] metatextual feast that will keep readers wondering even after the book concludes.” – Erin Niederberger, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] wickedly funny mystery… magical and metaphor-rich… This is a blast.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“[Croft] puts translators first, and with humor and grace explores art, celebrity, and the power of language.” – Emily Firetog, Literary Hub
“Croft, herself an acclaimed literary translator (of Polish Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk, among others) both celebrates and lampoons translation communities, which being both altruistic and parasitic, resemble the complex dynamics of forest biomes. Editorial footnotes, provided by the narrator’s own supposed translator, are delightfully wry. But beneath the satire and the metafiction lie a lament for our all-too-real ongoing ecocide and a desperate appeal that humans might emulate fungi and find sustenance within the destruction.” – Brendan Driscoll, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano
fiction / mystery / suspense / comedy.
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are—seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car—it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.
Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all—he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.
But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for—Marco’s already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike—and after Finlay’s night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.
If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?
“Cosimano nails the tone—breezy but not too fluffy—and maintains a breakneck pace throughout. Readers who prefer their mysteries to lean madcap will eat this up.” – Publishers Weekly
“Cosimano’s fourth Finlay Donovan novel is brilliantly plotted, bringing the witty humor and thrilling, nail-biting action the series is known for while also tackling emotional family dynamics. Cosimano knocks this one out of the park.” – Carmen Clark, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez ★
fiction / historical fiction.
It is said that the canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built. For Francisco, a local fisherman who resents the foreign powers clamoring for a slice of his country, nothing is more upsetting than the decision of his son, Omar, to work as a digger in the excavation zone. But for Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection.
Ada Bunting is a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados who arrives in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work. Alone and with no resources, she is determined to find a job that will earn enough money for her ailing sister’s surgery. When she sees a young man—Omar—who has collapsed after a grueling shift, she is the only one who rushes to his aid.
John Oswald has dedicated his life to scientific research and has journeyed to Panama in single-minded pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But now, his wife, Marian, has fallen ill herself, and when he witnesses Ada’s bravery and compassion, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Searing and empathetic, The Great Divide explores the intersecting lives of activists, fishmongers, laborers, journalists, neighbors, doctors, and soothsayers—those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.
“A compassionate and insightful historical epic.” – McKayla Coyle, Literary Hub
“[A] rich, evocative slice of life from a little-known chapter of history.” – Leandra Beabout, Reader’s Digest
“…enthralling… Henríquez’s pitch-perfect novel has the feel of a classic.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Henríquez reveals the forgotten blood, sweat, and tears that made this engineering marvel possible, while dramatizing with tenderness, insight, and striking detail how ‘the great divide’ not only split the land but also communities, families, culture, and a sense of wholeness. Though carrying heavy historical cargo, Henríquez’s tale is beguiling and bright with love, humor, and magic.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman ★
fiction / comedy.
Every day at 3:55 a.m., members of Team Movement clock in for their shift at big-box store Town Square in a small upstate New York town. Under the eyes of a self-absorbed and barely competent boss, they empty the day’s truck of merchandise, stock the shelves, and scatter before the store opens and customers arrive. Their lives follow a familiar if grueling routine, but their real problem is that Town Square doesn’t schedule them for enough hours—most of them are barely getting by, even while working second or third jobs. When store manager Big Will announces he is leaving, the members of Movement spot an opportunity. If they play their cards right, one of them just might land a management job, with all the stability and possibility for advancement that that implies. The members of Team Movement—including a comedy-obsessed oddball who acts half his age, a young woman clinging on to her “cool kid” status from high school, and a college football hopeful trying to find a new path—band together to set a just-so-crazy-it-might-work plot in motion.
Adelle Waldman’s debut novel was a breakout sensation, lauded by the Los Angeles Times as an “exacting character study” with “excellent and witty prose” and described as “incisive and very funny” by The Economist and “brilliant” by both NPR’s Fresh Air and the Washington Post. In her long-awaited follow-up, Waldman brings her unparalleled wit and astute social observation to the world of modern, low-wage work. A humane and darkly comic workplace caper that shines a light on the odds low-wage workers are up against in today’s economy, Help Wanted is a funny, moving tale of ordinary people trying to make a living.
“The workplace dramedy of the year.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“…perceptive… a bracing and worthwhile glimpse of the high stakes faced by low-wage workers.” – Publishers Weekly
“…clever… Help Wanted is a shrewd workplace comedy that never makes low-wage workers or the issues they face the punchline.” – Shannon Carlin, Time
“Waldman is unsentimental about her low-wage protagonists, investing them with foibles as well as everyday heroism, and she’s mesmerizing on the details of their work… A single paragraph on the difficulty of untangling bras has thrilling specificity.” – Taylor Antrim, Vogue
The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir by RuPaul ★
nonfiction / memoir.
Central to RuPaul’s success has been his chameleonic adaptability. From drag icon to powerhouse producer of one of the world’s largest television franchises, RuPaul’s ever-shifting nature has always been part of his brand as both supermodel and supermogul. Yet that adaptability has made him enigmatic to the public. In this memoir, his most intimate and detailed book yet, RuPaul makes himself truly known.
In The House of Hidden Meanings, RuPaul strips away all artifice and recounts the story of his life with breathtaking clarity and tenderness, bringing his signature wisdom and wit to his own biography. From his early years growing up as a queer Black kid in San Diego navigating complex relationships with his absent father and temperamental mother, to forging an identity in the punk and drag scenes of Atlanta and New York, to finding enduring love with his husband Georges LeBar and self-acceptance in sobriety, RuPaul excavates his own life-story, uncovering new truths and insights in his personal history.
Here in RuPaul’s singular and extraordinary story is a manual for living—a personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different, and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly.
A profound introspection of his life, relationships, and identity, The House of Hidden Meanings is a self-portrait of the legendary icon on the road to global fame and changing the way the world thinks about drag. “I’ve always loved to view the world with analytical eyes, examining what lies beneath the surface. Here, the focus is on my own life—as RuPaul Andre Charles,” says RuPaul.
If we’re all born naked and the rest is drag, then this is RuPaul totally out of drag. This is RuPaul stripped bare.
“…readers eager for a peek behind RuPaul’s glamorous persona will get just what they came for.” – Publishers Weekly
“A probing, emotionally raw memoir that’s an introspective examination of RuPaul’s family and the issues he confronted before embracing self-love.” – Kevin Howell, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“…bracingly candid… [he has a] remarkable way with words—as a writer, his sparse, elegant prose (with the occasional dash of his signature sparkling wit) makes it all the more powerful.” – Liam Hess, Vogue
“RuPaul, the pioneering creator of RuPaul’s Drag Race, writes eloquently about his early decades… RuPaul fans will undoubtedly devour this meticulously recollected, heartfelt excavation of his life’s highs and lows. A highly candid, empowering celebrity self-portrait.” – Kirkus Reviews
The Hunter by Tana French ★
fiction / mystery / suspense.
It’s a blazing summer when two men arrive in a small village in the West of Ireland. One of them is coming home. Both of them are coming to get rich. One of them is coming to die.
Cal Hooper took early retirement from the Chicago PD and moved to rural Ireland looking for peace. He’s found it, more or less: he’s built a relationship with a local woman, Lena, and he’s gradually turning Trey Reddy from a half-feral teenager into a good kid going good places. But then Trey’s long-absent father reappears, bringing along an English millionaire and a scheme to find gold in the townland, and suddenly everything the three of them have been building is under threat. Cal and Lena are both ready to do whatever it takes to protect Trey, but Trey doesn’t want protecting. What she wants is revenge.
From the writer who is “in a class by herself” (New York Times), a nuanced, atmospheric tale that explores what we’ll do for our loved ones, what we’ll do for revenge, and what we sacrifice when the two collide.
“Hailed as the queen of Irish crime fiction, French spins a taut tale of retribution, sacrifice, and family.” – Time
“…wonderfully evocative, entertaining and propulsive all the way through…” – Emily Temple, Literary Hub
“With sharp dialogue and expert character development, Tana French transports readers to the Irish countryside in The Hunter. Asking what we owe our community, this novel secures French’s place at the top of the literary mystery genre.” – Leslie Logemann, Indie Next
“French’s characterizations are brilliant, as always, and surprising strengths and vulnerabilities make for an often amusing, yet ominous and somber tale. The atmosphere is rich as the reader is reminded that this is the ‘real’ Ireland and not the one idealized by the ‘plastic Paddies.’ Masterfully written.” – Jane Murphy, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
fiction / romance.
Globetrotter Addie Macrae always follows her wanderlust. As a travel consultant, she jet sets around the world—anywhere but Scotland. But when she’s sent on assignment to help a struggling family-run tour company in the Highlands—and save her own job—Addie packs away her emotional baggage and turns on the professional charm.
Rugged as the land he loves, Logan Sutherland’s greatest joy is sharing the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems… even if it means a wee bit of red ink on the company’s bottom line. The last thing Logan wants is some American “expert” pushing tourist traps and perpetuating myths about the Loch Ness Monster—especially when Addie never leaves her desk to experience the country for herself.
As they wage an office war, Logan discovers Addie’s secret connection to Scotland: a handful of faded Polaroids of her late mother. Hoping for a truce, he creates a private tour to the places in the pictures to help Addie find closure and appreciate the enchantment in less-traveled destinations, never expecting the off-limits attraction sparking between them. But Addie’s contract is almost up, and magic won’t pay the bills. They can’t afford distractions, but how can Addie do her job if she hasn’t explored all Scotland—and Logan—have to offer?
“With an immersive Scottish setting, historical tidbits, and steamy fun, this is a bonny debut.” – Kirkus Reviews
“[A] charming romance that doubles as a vivid travelogue through Scotland… [the] romance strikes a nice balance between romantic interludes and heartfelt banter. Armchair travelers will especially enjoy this flirty jaunt through the highlands.” – Publishers Weekly
“With her delightfully entertaining, richly layered debut, Kiley not only delivers all the romantic heart, sexy heat, and quippy banter romance readers crave; she also deftly captures and conveys the magical appeal of Scotland as well as quietly yet powerfully exploring the grieving process one can go through after losing a loved one.” – John Charles, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
fiction / mystery / suspense.
After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.
But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast Listen for the Lie, and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.
The truth is out there, if we just listen.
“Smart, edgy, and entertaining as heck.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The true-crime podcast hook will draw readers in, but it is Lucy’s unique voice that will keep them turning the pages. An excellent takedown of small-town life and toxic masculinity.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist
“…outstanding… Readers will be hard-pressed not to wolf down this intelligent page-turner in a single sitting.” – Publishers Weekly
Murder Road by Simone St. James ★
fiction / horror / mystery / suspense.
July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.
When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.
“Once again, St. James has offered a gripping tale of crime tinged with the supernatural that crosses generations.” – Karen Muller, Booklist
“[A] gripping page turner… [adds] an eerie horror twist to the murder mystery format.” – Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
“Simone St. James has once again proven her prowess in the genre, crafting a tale that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and eerie setting, Murder Road is a haunting and atmospheric tale that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” – Justin Soderberg, Capes & Tights
“St. James’s intricate plot skillfully mixes gumshoe detective work with unexpected supernatural chills, not to mention winning characters that easily earn readers’ affection. This highly recommended title will thrill fans of St. James’s work and earn new ones along the way.” – Peggy Kurkowski, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
fiction / suspense / mystery.
Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.
At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.
“This propulsive, haunted thriller proves that competition for New York City real estate really can be deadly.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] gripping psychological thriller… smartly crafted and robust… there is never a dull moment throughout the story.” – Lisa Harvey, Blue Stocking Reviews
“Unger skillfully weaves Rosie’s first-person narration in the present with chapters set in the past that hold some of the book’s most effective twists. And she keeps the reader guessing as the threats escalate: Is the devil in the details at the Windermere, or just the evil that men do?” – Colette Bancroft, Tampa Bay Times
Parasol Against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi
fiction.
For reasons of her own, Hero Tojosoa accepts an invitation she was half expected to decline, and finds herself in Prague on a bachelorette weekend hosted by her estranged friend Sofie. Little does she know she’s arrived in a city with a penchant for playing tricks on the unsuspecting. A book Hero has brought with her seems to be warping her mind: the text changes depending on when it’s being read and who’s doing the reading, revealing startling new stories of fictional Praguers past and present. Uninvited companions appear at bachelorette activities and at city landmarks, offering opinions, humor, and even a taste of treachery. When a third woman from Hero and Sofie’s past appears unexpectedly, the tensions between the friends’ different accounts of the past reach a new level.
An adventurous, kaleidoscopic novel, Parasol Against the Axe considers the lines between illusion and delusion, fact and interpretation, and weighs the risks of attaching too firmly to the stories of a place, or a person, or a shared history. How much is a tale influenced by its reader, or vice versa? And finally, in a battle between friends, is it better to be the parasol or the axe?
“Like so much of Helen Oyeyemi’s acclaimed work, Parasol Against the Axe defies a simple logline—which, of course, is to its credit as an immersive, variegated study of a city and the people within… you’ll want to do all you can not to tear your eyes from the page.” – Elle
“…bold, lucid, and experimental… This is a metatextual masterpiece.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] loving and lively tribute to Prague of the present and the past as well as the complexities of both female friendship and storytelling.” – Kristine Huntley, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Promchanted by Morgan Matson
fiction / young adult / romance / fantasy.
Two modern teens.
One classic fairy tale.
Absolutely no cell service.
Stella Griffin doesn’t believe in fairy tales. Ever since her boyfriend dumped her three weeks before the prom—not ideal timing—she’s convinced every love story is a lie.
She’s ready to skip the prom entirely. But she and her best friend, Nisha, have been planning for years to celebrate at Disneyland before the prom… an OG OC tradition. But even being all dressed up at the Happiest Place on Earth isn’t salvaging Stella’s night. Nisha has brought along her friend Reece to join them, and he and Stella do not get along. They’re like oil and water. Cats and dogs. Aladdin and Jafar. And so what if Reece is, fine, kind of cute? Stella’s over it all. Happily-ever-afters, true love’s kisses, princes on white horses. It’s not real.
…Or is it?
Because when Stella and Reece push through a hidden door in Sleeping Beauty’s castle, they’re not in Anaheim anymore. They’re in the story. In Sleeping Beauty—with Aurora and Phillip, the fairies, Maleficent, and extremely intelligent woodland creatures.
Unfortunately, they’ve landed right in the middle of the story—which throws things off. Suddenly, Aurora and Phillip are meeting before they were supposed to. The fairies are suspicious of the interlopers, and even Maleficent gets word of their arrival.
Stella and Reece will have to put aside their differences
, make sure Aurora and Phillip fall in love, and get the story back on track—because if things don’t end the way they’re supposed to… they might never get home.
Will they be able to pull off a fairy-tale ending? And will Stella and Reece get a happily-ever-after of their own?
“…fun and breezy… A charming twist on a Disney romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“By employing and expanding upon familiar moments from the source material, Matson renders the original tale’s characters as relatable, multidimensional teens who—coupled with Stella and Reece’s antagonism—enliven this enjoyable romp.” – Publishers Weekly
Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch
nonfiction / biography / art.
In the 1980s, the subways of New York City were covered with art. In the stations, black matte sheets were pasted over outdated ads, and unsigned chalk drawings often popped up on these blank spaces. These temporary chalk drawings numbered in the thousands and became synonymous with a city as diverse as it was at war with itself, beset with poverty and crime but alive with art and creative energy. And every single one of these drawings was done by Keith Haring.
Keith Haring was one of the most emblematic artists of the 1980s, a figure described by his contemporaries as “a prophet in his life, his person, and his work.” Part of an iconic cultural crowd that included Andy Warhol, Madonna, and Basquiat, Haring broke down the barriers between high art and popular culture, creating work that was accessible for all and using it as a means to provoke and inspire radical social change. Haring died of AIDS in 1990. To this day, his influence on our culture remains incontrovertible, and his glamorous, tragically short life has a unique aura of mystery and power.
Brad Gooch, noted biographer of Flannery O’Connor and Frank O’Hara, was granted access to Haring’s extensive archive. He has written a biography that will become the authoritative work on the artist. Based on interviews with those who knew Haring best and drawing from the rich archival history, Brad Gooch sets out to capture the magic of Keith Haring: a visionary and timeless icon.
“Fans of Haring’s will not want to miss this definitive account of the artist’s life…” – Daniella Fishman, The Millions
“A sympathetic and well-researched portrait.” – Kirkus Reviews
“[A] rewarding deep dive into the life of pop artist Keith Haring… Shot through with details that bring to life the tumultuous social ferment of the era, this honors the inimitable spirit of a defining figure in the art world.” – Publishers Weekly
Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet ★
fiction.
Failed Pitbull impersonator Ismael Reyes—you can call him Izzy—might not be the Scarface type, but why should that keep him from trying? Growing up in Miami has shaped him into someone who dreams of being the King of the 305, with the money, power, and respect he assumes comes with it. After finding himself at the mercy of a cease-and-desist letter from Pitbull’s legal team and living in his aunt’s garage-turned-efficiency, Izzy embarks on an absurd quest to turn himself into a modern-day Tony Montana.
When Izzy’s efforts lead him to the tank that houses Lolita, a captive orca at the Miami Seaquarium, she proves just how powerful she and the water surrounding her really are—permeating everything from Miami’s sinking streets to Izzy’s memories to the very heart of the novel itself. What begins as Izzy’s story turns into a super-saturated fever dream as sprawling and surreal as the Magic City, one as sharp as an iguana’s claws, and as menacing as a killer whale’s teeth. As the truth su
rrounding Izzy’s boyhood escape from Cuba surfaces, the novel reckons with the forces of nature, with the limits and absence of love, and with the dangers of pursuing a tragic inheritance. Wildly narrated and expertly rendered, Say Hello to My Little Friend is Jennine Capó Crucet’s most daring, heart-breaking, and fearless book yet.
“Readers are in for a wild ride.” – Andriuenne Cruz, Booklist
“Unclassifiable and unforgettable.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Hilarious in places, poignant in others, this novel is a literary dessert not to miss.” – Michael F. Russo, Library Journal
“Crucet brilliantly brings readers inside the mind of a nonhuman intelligence in this tour de force… The goofiness of [Izzy’s] plan is balanced by Crucet’s vivid and plausible delineation of Lolita’s inner life, imbuing the gonzo plot with genuine emotional depth. This is an impressive feat.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov; translated by Boris Dralyuk
fiction / mystery / historical fiction.
Kyiv, 1919. World War I has ended in Western Europe, but to the East, six factions continue to vie for control of Ukraine. Amidst the political turmoil, young Samson Kolechko is forced to place his engineering career on hold. But in the city of Kyiv everything remains up for grabs and new opportunity lurks just around the corner…
When two Red Army soldiers commandeer his home, Samson’s life is completely upended. But as Samson juggles his personal life –including a budding romance with the ingenious Nadezhda, a statistician helping run the city’s census– with the soldiers’ intrusion, he winds up overhearing their secret plans. Deciding to report them, Samson instead finds himself unwittingly recruited as an investigator for the city’s new police force.
His first case involves two murders, a long bone made of pure silver, and a suit of decidedly unusual proportions tailored from fine English cloth. The odds stacked against him, Samson turns to Nadezhda, who proves to be more than his match. Inflected with Kurkov’s signature humor and off kilter universe, The Silver Bone takes its inspiration from the archives of Kyiv’s secret police, crafting a propulsive narrative bursting to life with rich historical detail.
“A winning offbeat crime novel that begs for a sequel.” – David Keymer, Library Journal
“…Kurkov’s prose is brisk but capacious, with a quiet flair.” – Mythili G. Rao, Financial Times
“…fascinating… the finely drawn characters and harrowing descriptions of daily life in 1919 Kyiv leave a far more lasting impression than clever genre tricks ever could. With its earthy prose and stunning attention to detail, this stands apart.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan ★
fiction / romance.
Lulu has always been taught that money is the ticket to a good life. So, when Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor surprises her with a proposal, the only acceptable answer is yes, even if the voice inside her head is saying no. His family’s fortune would solve all her parents’ financial woes, but Lulu isn’t in love or ready for marriage.
The only people she can confide in are her two best friends: career-minded Rina, who is tired of being passed over for promotion while her male colleagues are rewarded; and Jane, a sharp-tongued, luxury-chasing housewife desperate to divorce her husband and trade up. Each of them desires something different: freedom, time, beauty. None of them can get it without money.
Lulu’s wedding is their golden opportunity. The social event of the season, it means more than enough cash gifts to transform the women’s lives. To steal the money on the big day, all they’ll need is a trustworthy crew and a brilliant plan. But as the plot grows increasingly complicated and relationships are caught in the crossfire, the women are forced to face that having it all might come at a steep price…
“…heartfelt and funny…” – Refinery29
“[An] impressive debut that addresses social issues in contemporary China in a universal and sympathetic way.” – Susan Blumberg-Kason, Asian Review of Books
“Interwoven into the intricate plotting, crazy-rich-Asian exorbitance, and not-always believable twists (doesn’t matter!), are sharp, biting, brilliant observations about twenty-first-century womanhood in a world that still overvalues sons, brothers, husbands, and (useless) men.” – Terry Hong, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“The novel moves along briskly while dutifully adhering to the tropes of the heist genre, but this stands out for its unexpected depth… Wan pulls this off without a hitch.” – Publishers Weekly
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