“I had only two things on my mind; cheese and how to get home.” – Kimberly Lemming, That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
A Curse for the Homesick by Laura Robson
fiction / fantasy / romance.
On Stenland, there comes a time known as skeld season: when a woman can wake with three black lines on her forehead, the mark of a skeld, and turn anyone she sees to stone. Skeld season comes around without warning, and while each only lasts three months, the people skelds turn to stone are very much dead.
That’s how Tess’s mother killed Soren’s parents. Maybe for this reason alone, Tess and Soren should not have fallen in love. Since the time her mother was a skeld, Tess has wanted to leave Stenland, to run from the windswept island, from her family and friends. She is unwilling to bear the responsibility of one day killing anyone, let alone someone she loves. Soren, though, has always been determined to stay, to live out his life in the only place he’s ever known as home, even if that life could be cut short. They cannot see eye to eye—and yet, they cannot stay apart. She tries to come back for him. He tries to leave for her. But can your love for one person outweigh everything else? And how do you decide how much you’re willing to risk, if it might mean destroying someone else in the process?
Laura Brooke Robson has crafted a fascinating story about the choices we make, the responsibilities we carry, and the ambiguities of regret.
“Robson writes with simple elegance, and her book is not only a devoted character study, it is a love letter to her gorgeous fictional setting of Stenland: the wind, the cairns, the old towers; the ice cream spot and Hedda’s, the only coffee shop; the concrete swimming pool and the claustrophobia of a small town. This grounded, moving novel is a perfect rainy day read and an ode to what it is to be human—to desire and gain, to desire and lose, to find again.” – Jessica Peng, BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“…darkly enchanting… The author infuses their coming-of-age with a fairy tale quality and makes the bonds between them feel believable and robust. This is sure to win fans.” – Publishers Weekly
“Robson’s writing brings the island’s fog-laden landscapes vividly to life, balancing a sense of doom with poetic melancholy. With the skeld curse as a backdrop, Robson deftly examines the emotional costs of family, love, and loyalty. Fans of literary fantasy and bittersweet romance will find this an enthralling read that lingers like a half-forgotten memory.” – Brittney Cray, Booklist
Disposable: America’s Contempt for the Underclass by Sarah Jones ★
nonfiction / history / economics / politics.
In a compelling blend of personal narrative and in-depth reporting, New York magazine senior writer Sarah Jones exposes the harsh reality of America’s racial and income inequality and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our nation’s most vulnerable people.
In the tradition of Matthew Desmond’s Evicted and Andrea Elliot’s Invisible Child, Disposable is a poignant exploration of America’s underclass, left vulnerable by systemic racism and capitalism. Here, Sarah Jones delves into the lives of the essential workers, seniors, and people with disabilities who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19—not due to their age or profession, but because of the systemic inequality and poverty that left them exposed.
The pandemic served as a stark revelation of the true state of America, a country where the dream of prosperity is a distant mirage for millions. Jones argues that the pandemic didn’t create these dynamics, but rather revealed the existing social mobility issues and wealth gap that have long plagued the nation. Behind the staggering death toll are stories of lives lost, injustices suffered, and institutions that failed to protect their people.
Jones brings these stories to the forefront, transforming the abstract concept of the pandemic into a deeply personal and political phenomenon. She argues that America has abandoned a sacrificial underclass of millions but insists that another future is possible. By addressing the pervasive issues of racial justice and public policy, Jones calls for a future where no one is seen as disposable again.
“[A] gripping, important subject given justice by its chronicler.” – Tobias Carroll, Inside Hook
“A powerful, heartfelt argument for a more humane economics.” – Kirkus Reviews
“[A] disquieting examination of the systemic flaws laid bare by Covid… she interweaves her account with a mind-boggling assortment of anecdotes and insights that showcase systemic harm and humiliation… It’s a ghastly panorama of the American way of life.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A poignant exploration and cutting expose of America’s underclass, from seniors to those disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and more. Powerful and heartfelt, Disposable is a compassionate examination of the most overlooked people in the United States.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
Dream State by Eric Puchner
fiction.
Cece is in love. She has arrived early at her future in-laws’ lake house in Salish, Montana, to finish planning her wedding to Charlie, a young doctor with a brilliant life ahead of him. Charlie has asked Garrett, his best friend from college, to officiate the ceremony, though Cece can’t imagine anyone more ill-suited for the task—an airport baggage handler haunted by a tragedy from his and Charlie’s shared past. But as Cece spends time with Garrett, his gruff mask slips, and she grows increasingly uncertain about her future. And why does Garrett, after meeting Cece, begin to feel, well, human again? As a contagious stomach flu threatens to scuttle the wedding, and Charlie and Garrett’s friendship is put to the ultimate test, Cece must decide between the life she’s dreamed of and a life she’s never imagined.
The events of that summer have long-lasting repercussions, not only on the three friends caught in its shadow but also on their children, who struggle to escape their parents’ story. Spanning fifty years and set against the backdrop of a rapidly warming Montana, Dream State explores what it means to live with the mistakes of the past—both our own and the ones we’ve inherited.
Written with humor, precision, and enormous heart, both a love letter and an elegy to the American West, Dream State is a thrillingly ambitious ode to the power of friendship, the weird weather of marriage, and the beauty of impermanence.
“…riveting… Puchner’s layered saga is a deeply felt exploration of relationships and self-identity, and the imperfections hidden by the heart’s pull.” – Leah Strauss, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“[An] exuberant, gritty, glittering new novel… it is fresh, wise, funny, and compassionate… real tenderness and wit saturate every page… Puchner’s overarching love for these befuddled players, and theirs for one another, are palpable and credible. Dream State is a wonderful feast, and feat.” – Joan Frank, Boston Globe
“[A] packed saga of the very best kind, spanning from the characters’ college days through their old age, examining a multitude of themes that include friendship, betrayal, marriage, parenting, aging—and also the road not taken, climate change and addiction. Not many authors could successfully pull off such a sprawling, multifaceted chronicle, but Puchner excels at both the big picture and the small details, creating funny, believable dialogue throughout and using characters’ expertise to enrich the plot… Don’t miss Dream State, whose memorable characters leave readers with plenty to contemplate about life’s most vital aspects.” – Alice Cary, BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
The Echoes by Evie Wyld
fiction.
Max didn’t believe in an afterlife. Until he died. Now, as a reluctant ghost trying to work out why he is still here, he watches his girlfriend, Hannah, lost in grief in the apartment they shared and begins to realize how much of her life was invisible to him.
In the weeks and months before Max’s death, Hannah was haunted by the secrets she left Australia to escape. A relationship with Max seemed to offer the potential of a fresh new chapter, but the past refused to stay hidden. It found expression in the untold stories of the people she grew up with, and the events that broke her family apart and led her to Max.
Both a celebration and an autopsy of a relationship, and spanning multiple generations, The Echoes is a novel about love and grief, motherhood and sisterhood, secrets and who has the right to reveal them—what of our past can be cast away and what is fixed forever, echoing down through the years.
“The intricate structure and lyrical language rewards close reading, and Wyld skillfully balances the dark subject matter with moments of levity. This unsettling novel is tough to shake.” – Publishers Weekly
“Wyld’s fifth book is literary fiction at its best, expertly blending humor and despair. Her prose is at times heartbreaking, at times hilarious. Fans of The Romantic by Barbara Gowdy and Paint it Black by Janet Fitch will feel haunted long after they have finished reading The Echoes.” – Katie Pomeroy, Booklist
“The novel is pointillist and virtuosic, gradually revealing the shameful secrets in Hannah’s past—gothic doings in the Australian outback—and showing the way they reverberate, shudderingly, into the present.” – Taylor Antrim, Vogue
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
fiction / horror / fantasy.
It’s the height of the industrial revolution and ten years into Lenore’s marriage to steel magnate Henry, their relationship has soured. When Henry’s ambitions take them from London to the remote British moorlands to host a hunting party, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs up something deep within Lenore. And before long, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger…
As the day of the hunt draws closer, Lenore begins to unravel, questioning the role she has been playing all these years. Torn between regaining her husband’s affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, soon Lenore will uncover a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk.
“[The] lesbian vampire novel we need…” – Sally Tamarkin, Them
“British fantasy novelist Kat Dunn crafts a sensuous, bloodthirsty delight in Hungerstone… an atmospheric, blood-drenched, feminist twist on classic vampire tropes, a sapphic delight and industrial horror story.” – Alice Martin, Shelf Awareness
“[A] moody and triumphant retelling of Carmilla, the 1872 gothic novella by Sheridan Le Fanu… a meditation on womanhood, corporate greed, and queer desire, delivered in frank prose (‘To be a woman is a horror I can little comprehend’). This revitalizes Le Fanu’s classic tale without losing any of its appeal.” – Publishers Weekly
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
fiction / romance / fantasy / science fiction / comedy / adventure.
Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has… dinosaurs?
Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio…
As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined… zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.
“A laugh-out-loud ‘why choose?’ romance of intergalactic proportions.” – Kirkus Reviews
“[The] title and cover alone [should be] enough to convince you to dive into this hilarious and very raunchy tale…” – Andrea Park, Marie Claire
“[A] a laugh-out-loud romantic sci-fi adventure blending humor, heart, and intergalactic hijinks… Lemming’s sharp wit and unique premise turn the rom-com genre on its head while keeping readers thoroughly entertained. It’s a lighthearted yet touching story about finding love and belonging in the most unexpected places.” – Morgan Menzies, SheReads
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney
nonfiction / memoir / biography / books / history.
Long before she was a rare book dealer, Rebecca Romney was a devoted reader of Jane Austen. She loved that Austen’s books took the lives of women seriously, explored relationships with wit and confidence, and always allowed for the possibility of a happy ending. She read and reread them, often wishing Austen wrote just one more.
But Austen wasn’t a lone genius. She wrote at a time of great experimentation for women writers—and clues about those women, and the exceptional books they wrote, are sprinkled like breadcrumbs throughout Austen’s work. Every character in Northanger Abbey who isn’t a boor sings the praises of Ann Radcliffe. The play that causes such a stir in Mansfield Park is a real one by the playwright Elizabeth Inchbald. In fact, the phrase “pride and prejudice” came from Frances Burney’s second novel Cecilia. The women that populated Jane Austen’s bookshelf profoundly influenced her work; Austen looked up to them, passionately discussed their books with her friends, and used an appreciation of their books as a litmus test for whether someone had good taste. So where had these women gone? Why hadn’t Romney—despite her training—ever read them? Or, in some cases, even heard of them? And why were they no longer embraced as part of the wider literary canon?
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes—women writers who were erased from the Western canon—to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth—and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels.
“A can’t miss for Austen fans and literary lovers alike.” – Town & Country
“…riveting… Romney is not only an expert antiquarian book dealer and a passionate and knowledgeable reader, but also a marvelous writer… With humor and candor, Romney gives readers much to ponder about a favorite author and why her books are of such importance today… marvelous…” – Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness
“[A] powerful, page-turning journey into the lost voices of 18th-century women writers who inspired Jane Austen—and why their words vanished from our shelves. More than a literary excavation, this book is a feminist manifesto on who gets to shape our canon… This book is a revelation for anyone who’s ever wondered who’s missing from the traditional literary landscape… Jane Austen’s Bookshelf is a thrill for anyone who loves Austen but knows that our favorite books don’t appear out of nowhere. This book practically demands that we rethink our shelves, ask who got left behind, and make space for voices that dared to speak up in a world that preferred them silent. ” – Tara Finley, Bust
Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison ★
nonfiction / biography / television / history.
Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him. He’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Tracy Morgan), the “great and powerful Oz” (Kate McKinnon), “some kind of very distant, strange comedy god” (Bob Odenkirk).
Lorne will introduce you to him, in full, for the first time. With unprecedented access to Michaels and the entire SNL apparatus, Susan Morrison takes readers behind the curtain for the lively, up-and-down, definitive story of how Michaels created and maintained the institution that changed comedy forever.
Drawn from hundreds of interviews—with Michaels, his friends, and SNL’s iconic stars and writers, from Will Ferrell to Tina Fey to John Mulaney to Chris Rock to Dan Aykroyd—Lorne is a deeply reported, wildly entertaining account of a man singularly obsessed with the show that would define his life and have a profound impact on American culture.
“[An] engrossing look at the man behind the curtain.” – Publishers Weekly
“Add this to the top of the pile of SNL tomes, just in time for the show’s 50th anniversary.” – Lisa Henry, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“Essential for SNL lovers and everyone interested in comedy and television, this is a deft and insightful look at one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in entertainment and the legacy he’s built.” – Kristine Huntley, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Midnight Black by Mark Greaney
fiction / suspense / action.
A winter sunrise over the great plains of Russia is no cause for celebration. The temperature barely rises above zero, and the guards at Penal Colony IK22 are determined to take their misery out on the prisoners—chief among them, one Zoya Zakharova. Once a master spy for Russian foreign intelligence, then the partner and lover of the Gray Man, she has information the Kremlin wants, and they don’t care what they have to do to get it.
But if they think a thousand miles of frozen wasteland and the combined power of the Russian police state is enough to protect them, they don’t know the Gray Man. He’s coming, and no one’s safe.
“[Greaney] gives action fans what they want.” – Don Crinklaw, Booklist
“Greaney’s action scenes are as kinetic and chaotic as ever—especially an exhilarating chase through the Moscow subway—but it’s Court’s tender humanity when it comes to protecting his allies that shines brightest. This is one of Greaney’s best yet.” – Publishers Weekly
“[A] pulse-pounding thriller that opens with a bang—literally—and never lets up for a single second… Not since the days of prime Vince Flynn has a character so demanded attention, and to be frank, the Gray Man might be the only name in print right now capable of going toe-to-toe with genre icons such as Mitch Rapp and Jason Bourne… It is obviously too early to crown Greaney’s book the best thriller of 2025, but I’d bet the house that when it’s all said and done, Midnight Black will stand among the very best titles the year has to offer, and I seriously doubt anyone will find a way to top this all-out, savage, ruthless, unputdownable adventure from the best author in the thriller game right now.” – Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy
No Fault: A Memoir of Romance and Divorce by Haley Mlotek ★
nonfiction / memoir.
Divorce was everything for Haley Mlotek. As a child, she listened to her twice-divorced grandmother tell stories about her “husbands.” As a pre-teen, she answered the phones for her mother’s mediation and marriage counseling practice and typed out the paperwork for couples in the process of leaving each other. She grew up with the sense that divorce was an outcome to both resist and desire, an ordeal that promised something better on the other side of something bad. But when she herself went on to marry—and then divorce—the man she had been with for twelve years, suddenly, she had to reconsider her generation’s inherited understanding of the institution.
Deftly combining her personal story with wry, searching social and literary exploration, No Fault is a deeply felt and radiant account of 21st century divorce—the remarkably common and seemingly singular experience, and what it reveals about our society and our desires for family, love, and friendship. Mlotek asks profound questions about what divorce should be, who it is for, and why the institution of marriage maintains its power, all while charting a poignant and cathartic journey away from her own marriage towards an unknown future.
Brilliant, funny, and unflinchingly honest, No Fault is a kaleidoscopic look at marriage, secrets, ambitions, and what it means to love and live with uncertainty, betrayal, and hope.
“[A] wise and distinctly modern accounting of the end of a marriage, and what it means on a personal, social, and literary level.” – Sophia M. Stewart, The Millions
“Another revelatory addition to the collection of books on marriage and its endings, No Fault captivatingly provides a review of many other artistic depictions of marriage and divorce as well as offers an elucidating peek into her first-hand experience.” – Julia Hass, Literary Hub
“[A] shrewd testament to personal agency and self-definition… This raw and reflective account stands out in the crowded field of divorce memoirs.” – Publishers Weekly
“Mlotek writes with wry and poignant fluidity, her wit almost offhanded, her avidity for understanding, candor, and provocative syllogisms magnetic. The result is an intimate, astute, and captivating inquiry into the conventions and mysteries of marriage and divorce.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist
The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens
fiction / mystery / historical fiction / suspense.
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
“This historical thriller alternates between present day and 1995 Bosnia with a plot that’s intense and gritty, and writing that’s moving and heartbreaking.” – Connie Laing, Library Reads
“Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale or Kate Quinn’s books will be caught up in this violent story of a courageous woman.” – Lesa Holstine, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“The Quiet Librarian will make readers contemplate their definition of justice and the decisions humans make when trapped in terrible situations. This book is perfect for fans of intense, bleak mysteries and those who like fiction featuring real-life history.” – Stephanie Howes, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance.
A WITCH…
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.
A WITCH HUNTER…
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by joining forces with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE…
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.
“A captivating finale to a highly addictive and entertaining duology.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Dotted with magic, love and angst… [an] epic finale…” – Syameen Salehaldin, Harper’s Bazaar
“Fans of The Crimson Moth won’t be disappointed in this satisfying conclusion to Rune and Gideon’s story.” – Kim Baccellia, YA Books Central
Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress – And How to Bring It Back by Marc J. Dunkelman
nonfiction / politics / economics.
America was once a country that did big things—we built the world’s greatest rail network, a vast electrical grid, interstate highways, abundant housing, the Social Security system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and more. But today, even while facing a host of pressing challenges—a housing shortage, a climate crisis, a dilapidated infrastructure—we feel stuck, unable to move the needle. Why?
America is today the victim of a vetocracy that allows nearly anyone to stifle progress. While conservatives deserve some blame, progressives have overlooked an unlikely culprit: their own fears of “The Establishment.” A half-century ago, progressivism’s designs on getting stuff done were eclipsed by a desire to box in government. Reformers put speaking truth to power ahead of exercising that power for good. The ensuing gridlock has pummeled faith in public institutions of all sorts, stifled the movement’s ability to deliver on its promises, and, most perversely, opened the door for MAGA-style populism.
A century ago, Americans were similarly frustrated—and progressivism pointed the way out. The same can happen again. Marc J. Dunkelman vividly illustrates what progressives must do if they are going to break through today’s paralysis and restore, once again, confidence in democratically elected government. To get there, reformers will need to acknowledge where they’ve gone wrong. Progressivism’s success moving forward hinges on the movement’s willingness to rediscover its roots.
“Provocative reading for anyone with a stake in public works writ large.” – Kirkus Reviews
“…eye-opening… Many of the reforms introduced to keep public officials from doing bad are preventing them from doing good. Solving that problem, Dunkelman concludes, will require a change of mindset: ‘In a phrase, it will mean giving communities a voice but not a veto.’” – Toby Lester, Harvard Business Review
“Dunkelman’s history of progressivism is well written and impressive, especially because of the usual short shrift modern progressives typically pay to their intellectual tradition and historical antecedents… We can debate the proper size and scope of government, but both progressives and conservatives should be able to agree that when the public sector sets out to do something, it should do it relatively well and provide value for money to taxpayers. Dunkelman does a great service in reinforcing this with his audience. One hopes that, before it’s too late, progressives will heed his admonitions.” – Daniel M. Rothschild, Discourse
-
-
-
-
-