“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.” – Stephen King
And They Were Roommates by Page Powars
fiction / young adult / romance / comedy.
Romance is the last thing on Charlie’s mind.
On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie’s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school’s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie’s heart the year before he transitioned.
Except, Jasper doesn’t recognize Charlie.
Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters.
Long nights spent discussing deep romantic feelings with Jasper? Surely, no unintended consequences will arise…
“A vibrant story that’s perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston.” – People
“Realistic teenage drama as well as memorable characters and their genuine relationships elevate the silly hijinks of this pleasantly crafted rom-com.” – Publishers Weekly
“This standout, tender romance deals not only with the vulnerability of young love and trusting after heartbreak but also the impact of intense academic pressure… Powars’ sophomore work is a vibrant love letter to trans readers.” – Fin Leary, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson
fiction / mystery.
Having recently moved from London to a small Cornish seaside village, Nova Davies started a book club at the local community center, but so far it’s a disaster. The five members disagree on everything, and to make matters worse, a significant sum of money is stolen during one of the meetings, putting the much-loved community center at risk.
Suspicion for the theft falls on book club member Michael, especially when he disappears and a dead body turns up at his house. But the book club has their own theories. Agatha Christie superfan Phyllis is determined to prove Michael’s been framed, while romance reader Arthur believes there’s a mystery woman involved, and teenage sci-fi fan Ash thinks dark forces are at play.
While trying to locate Michael, solve the murder and recover the stolen money, each of them has their own secrets to protect. But despite the danger closing in, they won’t rest until they’ve cracked the case and gotten everyone safe at home with a book, where they belong.
“Fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club will love this new novel from Sampson…” – AARP
“The characters are well drawn and likable, the setting is cozy, and the motives are plentiful. The mystery twists and turns with several reveals leading to a satisfying conclusion.” – Laura Eckert, Library Reads
“Sampson has a knack for pulling together a ragtag, multigenerational crew of charming characters, and this time, she adds crime to the mix… This cozy mystery has strong caper vibes and lots of bookish references, a real treat for readers.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
nonfiction / science / nature / memoir.
Growing up, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian felt most at home in the swamps and culverts near her house in the Hudson Valley. A child who frequently felt out of place, too much of one thing or not enough of another, she found acceptance in these settings, among other amphibious beings. In snakes, snails, and, above all, fungi, she saw her own developing identities as a queer, neurodivergent person reflected back at her—and in them, too, she found a personal path to a life of science.
In Forest Euphoria, Kaishian shows us this making of a scientist and introduces readers to the queerness of all the life around us. Fungal species, we learn, commonly encompass more than two biological sexes—and some as many as twenty-three thousand. Some intersex slugs mutually fire calcium carbonate “love darts” at each other during courtship. Glass eels are sexually undetermined until their last year of life, a mystery that scientists once dubbed “the eel question.” Nature, Kaishian shows us, is filled with the unusual, the overlooked, and the marginalized—and they have lessons for us all.
Wide-ranging, richly observant, and full of surprises, Forest Euphoria will open your eyes and change how you look at the world.
“…Forest Euphoria is a liberating nature text that finds level ground and interrelatedness between humble microbes and the swirling cosmos…” – Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] reverent celebration of the natural world’s diversity… Fascinating tidbits abound, and the lyrical prose imbues the scientific discussions with a sense of wonder. This will leave readers in awe of nature’s many splendors.” – Publishers Weekly
“At a time when both science and the planet are increasingly under attack, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian’s debut memoir, Forest Euphoria, offers a vision of the sciences as a space of refuge and imagination… Forest Euphoria tenderly draws connections between ecological and personal discovery.” – Isle McElroy, Vulture
Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts
fiction / romance / mystery / suspense.
Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.
After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.
She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.
Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.
“For Roberts’s fans, this delivers the goods.” – Publishers Weekly
“…Roberts continues to serve up maximum reading pleasure with another nerve-wracking novel of suspense featuring one of her gutsy, determined heroines, who is supported by a hunky love-interest and a strong circle of family and friends.” – John Charles, Booklist
“This is vintage Nora Roberts… an excellent piece of narrative fiction.” – Ian Lipke, Queensland Reviewers Collective
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
fiction / romance / comedy.
Love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth.
Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as “Poor Janey Jakes,” the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punch line on America’s fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive by embracing a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.
Except she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she claimed that she could get mega popstar Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.
Now Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan as she faces down her past is Jane’s idea of hell, but he just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?
“[A] great beach read… there was oh so much to be entertained by the whole way through.” – Sara, Harlequin Junkie
“Bestseller Monaghan charms with this bingeable beachy contemporary… Monaghan mines a lot of joy out of Dan’s close-knit family dynamic and the scenic coastal setting, while creating a heroine readers will root for. This is an addictive romp.” – Publishers Weekly
“Summer is right around the corner and there’s no better book to kick it off than Annabel Monaghan’s latest It’s a Love Story. This slow burn rom-com has everything you could ask for in a beach read… a slow burn warm hug that you can’t help but binge reading.” – Jennifer Cox, The Suburban
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
fiction / historical fiction.
2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.
1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war… before it’s too late?
“…transporting… This twisty tale is not to be missed.” – Publishers Weekly
“Inspired by true events, Kelly’s new novel explores friendship, family dynamics, and the power of books to unite communities. Recommended for historical fiction readers who enjoy the work of Kristin Hannah, Marie Benedict, and Kate Quinn.” – Linsey Milillo, Library Journal
“Author Kelly has written many historical novels, and this is probably one of the most compelling… A book on books, an intriguing story on another facet of WWII history, and a heartwarming tale about community and reconnecting with family—this is another great title for fans of historical fiction.” – Lynn Topel, The Epoch Times
Never Flinch by Stephen King ★
fiction / suspense / mystery / horror.
When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.
Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.
Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.
“…King keeps us in a constant state of edge-of-our-seat suspense. Ms. Gibney continues to be a deeply interesting and likable character, and the author has created one of his most twistedly compelling villains. This is Stephen King at his finest, and an absolute must-read for his fans.” – David Pitt, Booklist
“King cements PI Holly Gibney’s status as one of the great contemporary detectives in this thrilling sequel to Holly… Elegantly structured and sharply written, this moody mystery from the master of horror is a must-read.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Intelligent, courageous and modest to a fault, Holly is one of the most appealing investigators in contemporary crime fiction… Never Flinch contains plenty of King’s trademark chilling moments, with the two storylines expertly entwined.” – Laura Wilson, The Guardian
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
fiction / romance / comedy.
Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.
Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.
It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.
But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.
When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.
“Ali Hazelwood turns up the heat with her age gap romance.” – Swooon
The South by Tash Aw
fiction.
When his grandfather dies, Jay travels south with his family to the property they’ve inherited, a once flourishing farm that has fallen into disrepair. The trees are diseased, the fields parched from months of drought.
Jay’s father, Jack, sends him out to work the land, or whatever land is left. Over the course of these hot, dense days, Jay finds himself drawn to Chuan, the son of the farm’s manager, different from him in every way except for one.
Out in the fields, and on the streets into town, the charge between the boys intensifies. Inside the house, the other family members begin to confront their own secrets and regrets. Jack is a professor at a struggling local college whose failures might have begun when he married his student, Sui Ching. Sui Ching does her best to keep the family together, though she too wonders what her life could have been. And Fong, the manager, refuses to look at what is: at Chuan, at the land, at the global forces that threaten to render his whole life obsolete.
At once sweeping and compressed, Tash Aw’s The South is a family novel of change and desire—a story of what happens when public and private lives collide, told with uncommon grace and beauty.
“…stellar… Aw uses rich symbolism, such as the Lims’ ever-present tamarind grove, alive and beautiful but terminally diseased. This masterwork of psychological realism brings to mind the classic novels of E.M. Forster.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Although the novel is an exquisite portrait of young love, its main theme is a different kind of highly relatable yearning: to live your life as you wish.” – Jane Wallace, Asian Review of Books
“[A] gorgeous coming-of-age story… Aw channels all five senses to lend an intense physicality to his novel… With The South, he has crafted a story of yearning for autonomy, escape, financial independence and excitement that is suffused with sexual longing and the ache of nostalgia… this shimmering, psychologically rich tale of first love and a family at a crossroads stands taller than those ill-fated tamarind trees.” – Heller McAlpin, New York Times
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