“Friends are the siblings God never gave us.” – Bruce Holsinger, The Gifted School
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
fiction / suspense.
When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them each in the accident.
During a weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Noah tries to hold the family together as a seemingly routine police investigation jeopardizes Charlie’s future. Alice and Izzy turn strangely furtive. And Lorelei’s odd behavior tugs at Noah’s suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident—suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. When Charlie falls for Monet’s teenaged daughter, the stakes are raised even higher in this propulsive family drama that is also a fascinating exploration of the moral responsibility and ethical consequences of AI.
Culpability explores a world newly shaped by chatbots, autonomous cars, drones, and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging, and unimaginably provocative.
“Culpability is the thinking man’s page-turner, absolutely of the moment.” – Marion Winik, Newsday
“…Holsinger seems to have created his own subgenre of psychosocial thriller, spinning super-smart, propulsive page-turners out of zeitgeisty worries… If you are not already hooked on Holsinger, it’s time to join the club.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] few times a year a book blows me away to such a degree that I can’t stop telling my friends about it, chatting it up on social media, and thinking about it while I’m walking my dogs or doing the dishes. This summer, that book is Culpability… This is the book you’ll be desperate to talk about while you’re beside the pool, and dying to press into somebody else’s hands once you’ve closed the final, chlorine-splattered page. It’s the most of-the-moment novel I’ve read all year, and it’s the book of the summer.” – Kristyn Kusek Lewis, Real Simple
Darling Beasts by Michelle Gable
fiction.
Gabby, Talia, and Ozzie Gunn, heirs to a media empire, are in trouble. After several bad investments and one major scandal, their father is now trying to restore their family’s good name with a senatorial run. Even worse? He’s demanding they move to California to join the campaign or risk being cut off.
It’s easy to say you don’t care about money when you have enough, but with mounting debts, unconventional hobbies, and in the case of Gabby, Portum Bestiae Syndrome—a very expensive condition in which strange symptoms arise and then an exotic animal appears—the siblings don’t have much of a choice. In California, they’ll just have to keep their distance and survive until it’s all over.
But almost immediately, the Gunns find themselves right in the thick of things, dodging headlines and the creatures that seem to pop up in the most inconvenient places. Not only that—the change in scenery even has them bonding, on hot-air balloon rides and sunny beaches. But when a family secret rears its head, reopening old wounds, this new existence is thrown into chaos, and the stage is set for a long-overdue reckoning…
“…Succession meets Schitt’s Creek… a smart, funny, and often poignant novel… succeeds in capturing the complicated reality of family ties and personal reinvention.” – Shanna Thornsbury, The Gloss
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild ★
fiction / romance / mystery.
Honor seems to have everything: she adores her bright and beautiful daughter, Chloe, and her charming, handsome husband, Tom, even if he works one hundred hours a week. Yet Honor’s longing for another baby threatens to eclipse all of it―until a shocking event changes their lives forever.
Years later, Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families’ lives in ways he could never have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women’s paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?
Blending a page-turning moral dilemma with satisfying emotional poignancy, Finding Grace is a sweeping love story that explores the price of a new beginning, how the ghosts of our past shape our future, and whether redemption can be found in the wreckage of what we’ve lost.
“[A] strikingly original and deeply moving debut.” – Robin Micheli, People
“[An] emotionally charged debut… The novel’s examination of love and family will leave readers with plenty to chew on.” – Publishers Weekly
“…this poignant novel combines a tale of love, loss, and fate with a thread of increasing tension as the story builds to its inevitable outcome. Hand this one to fans of Jodi Picoult, Anna Quindlen, and the 2000 movie Return to Me.” – Halle Carlson, Booklist
“I have never gasped as loudly as I have at the conclusion of Finding Grace’s first chapter. At that point, I was all in. Rothschild’s elegant prose and sense of place and time root the reader in this incredibly vivid story of love, loss, and the history that we are willing to rewrite.” – Megan Birch-McMichael, The Indie Next List
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
fiction / mystery / historical fiction / fantasy.
Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they’re frozen—or so their inside joke goes. Nobody knows that her team has a secret: they can travel back in time to look for evidence.
The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London to clear the name of Cain Templeton, an eccentric patron of the arts. Rumor has it that Cain is part of a sinister group called The Collectors. Ali arrives in the Victorian era to another dead woman at her feet and far too many unanswered questions.
As the clock counts down, Ali becomes more entangled in the mystery, yet danger lurks around every corner. She soon finds herself trapped, unable to make her way back to her beloved son, Finn, who is battling his own accusations in the present day.
Could the two cases be connected? In a race through and against time, Ali must find out before it’s too late.
“…the historical sections are well researched, and Griffiths not only succeeds in making the implausible plausible, but leaves enough narrative breadcrumbs to make us long for more.” – Laura Wilson, The Guardian
“The time-travel element adds something fresh for the author and the readers. Fans of Griffiths, police procedurals, and/or historical mysteries will find a lot to enjoy.” – Jane Jorgenson, Library Journal
“Murder on several time planes is a fascinating premise enhanced by an enthralling look at Victorian London.” – Kirkus Reviews
The Hiroshima Men: The Quest to Build the Atomic Bomb, and the Fateful Decision to Use It by Iain MacGregor
nonfiction / history.
At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world’s first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same.
The Hiroshima Men’s vivid narrative recounts the decade-long journey toward this first atomic attack. It charts the race for the bomb during World War II, as the Allies fought the Axis powers, and is told through several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr.; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside eighty thousand fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer John Hersey, who traveled to Japan for The New Yorker to expose the devastation the bomb inflicted on the city and to describe in unflinching detail the dangers posed by radiation poisoning.
This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of power in the White House and the Pentagon to the test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Germany to the Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin; from the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across Japan. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives—a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives—to complete Iain MacGregor’s nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing’s meaning and aftermath.
“…painstakingly researched… treats the atomic bomb more as a weapon of mass murder and less as a scientific breakthrough, while managing to convey the urgency behind its development for the Allied forces.” – Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times
“The Hiroshima Men is a well-researched study of how warfare was forever changed with the dropping of Fat Man and Little Boy. MacGregor deftly chronicles the key figures involved in U.S. government and the military who helped end a war while ushering in the tense nuclear age that followed it.” – Philip Zozzaro, Booklist
Hour of the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd
fiction / young adult / fantasy.
One year has passed since Sally wed her beloved Jack Skellington and stepped into her role as queen of Halloween Town. Even with her Jack at her side, though, being a ruler isn’t easy, and Sally feels uncertain of her future. Her seams are stretched thin with her royal duties, her newfound family in Dream Town, and a desire to bring citizens from across the Hinterlands together.
Then a simple potion demonstration at Sally’s inaugural Halloween exhibition goes horribly wrong, and things unravel fast: Sally and her new rag doll apprentice, Luna, fall through a mysterious portal, landing in a new realm called Time Town. They discover that someone has tampered with the clock that controls Halloween Town, and Sally cannot return to the present-day version of her home unless she finds the culprit and resets time.
Sally and Luna embark on a journey to unmask the truth, encountering more towns, friends, and foes along the way. But time is ticking, and as Sally fights to save Jack and her hometown, she wonders what kind of future she really wants–and what she must sacrifice to get it.
“Expanding on the already gorgeous world of Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally’s globetrotting adventure to save all she holds dear is a rip-roaring good time.” – B&N Reads
How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
fiction / horror / mystery / suspense.
When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of writers find themselves invited to his last will and testament reading expecting a piece of his massive fortune. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they’ve been waiting for their chance to step into the author’s shoes for some time.
Instead, they arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If they don’t, the manor will take one of them for itself.
You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of Mortimer’s family, and like any true horror story, the house is still very, very hungry.
With the clever, locked-room thrills of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and the ghostly horror of The Fall of the House of Usher, How to Survive a Horror Story is a bright, biting, thrill-ride that begs us to contemplate how the best horror stories come to be.
“…pleasantly old-fashioned… the playfulness of the macabre mystery is sure to hold readers’ attention. It’s good, spooky fun.” – Publishers Weekly
“…intricate and pulse-pounding… This debut is sure to appeal to fans of mystery and horror.” – Douglas Beatty, Library Reads
“Jumping between the perspectives of the seven writers as they interact, work together, and are slowly picked off, Arnold’s novel ensnares readers in the stories within the story. The mystery-novel aspect of solving Queen’s puzzle keeps the pacing quick and the tone more chilling than terrifying… A great example of the popular cozy horror trend, blended with mystery.” – Becky Spratford, Library Journal
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley ★
fiction / fantasy / romance.
When Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, falls ill, he realizes he needs the expertise of a very specific healer. As fate would have it, that healer belongs to an enemy faction, the Haelan Order.
Aurienne Fairhrim and her fellow Haelan are inundated by sick children suffering from an outbreak of a long-forgotten Pox. Unable to get the funding needed to launch an immunization program, the Haelan Order is desperate for money – so desperate that when Osric breaks into their headquarters to bribe Aurienne to heal him, she is forced to accept.
As Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of the Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which only fuels the tension between them.
“A fun, witty enemies-to-lovers romance that delivers plenty of banter, sizzling tension, and the right amount of angst. If you love a stubborn and slow burn romance, this one has exactly what you’re looking for.” – Chelsea Semonco, The Indie Next List, #1 PICK
“Knightly’s debut is an absolute joy, full of well-written banter and entertaining vignettes. Readers will be captivated… This is a superlative read deserving of very real praise.” – Judith Utz, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] wickedly humorous, slow-burn love story between two protagonists who epitomize the opposites-attract trope. It’s sure to delight readers of debut novelist Knightley’s popular fanfic and garner her a new audience.” – Eve Stano, Library Journal
“This high fantasy world is full of spine-tingling tension and rapturous romance… this is the start of your new favorite series.” – B&N Reads
The Lake’s Water Is Never Sweet by Giulia Caminito; translated by Hope Campbell Gustafson
fiction.
In the 1990s, Gaia’s family moves from the neglected peripheries of Rome to an idyllic lakeside town twenty miles away, in search of a new life that will lift them out of poverty. Each of them bears their own scars: Gaia’s strong-willed mother is fiercely determined to secure a better future for her children at any cost; her father, a once proud man, now suffers in bitter silence after a devastating accident; her anarchist older brother rebels against the political apathy he sees at home; and her young twin brothers wordlessly bear witness to a family in decay.
When Gaia meets two local girls, Agata and Carlotta, the trio builds a fragile friendship throughout their adolescence based as much on their insecurities and jealousies as it is on their mutual affection. Gaia’s encounters with callous boys and contemptuous teachers convince her that she might always be an outsider—excluded from a privileged life and perhaps even beyond the possibility of happiness. Faced with bullying and betrayals among her peers and immense pressure from her mother to excel, Gaia turns inward and her world becomes increasingly insular. Then tragedy strikes her friend group. As more friends slip away and her family fractures, Gaia vows to make the world pay for all the things it has denied her.
Winner of the Campiello Prize, The Lake’s Water Is Never Sweet is an unflinching portrait of a generation, striving to make a place for themselves in a world markedly different from the one their parents promised them. With psychological acuity and stylish prose, Caminito takes us into the volatile, searching mind of a young woman torn between her desire to connect with others and her drive for self-preservation. In a novel that has been acclaimed by readers around the world, Caminito shows how tenderness and fragility often lie just beneath the surface of simmering fury.
“Ferocious and riveting.” – Kirkus Reviews
“…mesmerizing… A work of aching realism, this volatile coming-of-age novel is about the precariousness of growing up.” – Karen Rigby, Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“A complex, precise portrait of the loneliness of girlhood, The Lake’s Water is Never Sweet is exactly the kind of book I’m looking for this year.” – McKayla Coyle, Literary Hub
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst ★
nonfiction / biography / travel / adventure.
Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He’s a loner, awkward and obsessive; she’s charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream – as we all dream – of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away?
Most of us begin and end with the daydream. But in June 1972, Maurice and Maralyn set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves.
What ensues is a jaw-dropping fight to survive in the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn have to find not only ways to stay alive but ways to get along, as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Although they could run away from the world, they can’t run away from themselves.
Taut, propulsive, and dazzling, A Marriage at Sea pairs an adrenaline-fueled high seas adventure with a gutting love story that asks why we love difficult people, and who we become under the most extreme conditions imaginable.
“This is nonfiction that reads like fiction – the best kind… Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves. You won’t be able to put it down.” – Clare Mulroy, USA Today
“Elmhirst’s account is as much a meditation on intimacy as a remarkable adventure tale.” – New York Times
“A Marriage at Sea was such an emotionally vivid portrait of a couple in isolation that I was shocked it wasn’t fiction. How could a writer get so deeply into the minds of two real people in such extraordinary circumstances?… [an] incredible account… so brilliantly depicted that it’s almost too painful to read.” – Adrienne Gaffney, Elle
“As the days tick on, reaching the triple digits, the suspense is almost unbearably high, what the couple weathers truly unbelievable, and the book impossible to put down. British journalist Elmhirst nimbly and skillfully relates the story’s intensely dramatic moments while folding in the couple’s history… A jaw-dropping and gripping survival story.” – Annie Bostrom, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports by Christine Brennan
nonfiction / biography / sports / basketball.
America has never seen an athlete quite like Caitlin Clark. Attracting record-shattering attendance and TV ratings, she has riveted the nation with her famous logo threes and thrilling passes and changed how fans across the country view women’s sports. Drawing on dozens of extensive interviews and exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting, veteran journalist Christine Brennan narrates Clark’s rise—including the formative experiences that led to her scoring more points than any woman or man in major college basketball history—and delivers fascinating new details about Clark’s Olympic snub by USA Basketball, the safety concerns around her that led to charter flights for all players, the WNBA’s lack of preparation for heightened national scrutiny, and troubling outbreaks of jealousy and resentment as a white player became the top story in a predominantly Black league.
The 2024 season was a watershed. Always taking the high road in the face of criticism, Clark proceeded to write herself into WNBA record books as one of the league’s most talented rookies ever. And her winning persona—on full display whether surrounded by children begging for autographs or reporters hanging on her every word—made Clark such a fan favorite that increasingly larger arenas needed to be found to accommodate the hordes who traveled hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of miles to watch her play.
Clark arrived as a sports and cultural icon a little more than fifty years after the passage of Title IX, the 1972 law that opened the floodgates for girls and women to play sports in America. On Her Game is a sports story, certainly, but it’s also the story of a nation falling in love with what it has created because of that law—millions of new athletes, led by the magical Caitlin Clark.
“[A] top-notch biography… a triumphant account of a game-changer.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“An admiring look at a young hoop star’s effect on her game’s popularity.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Brennan’s longtime coverage of Clark’s career makes this book a slam dunk.” – Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times
Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon ★
fiction / suspense / mystery.
Frida and Gabriel arrive seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. Once so close they were able to finish each other’s sentences, they’ve grown apart in recent years after a sudden, unspeakable tragedy. Now, at the luxe resort, they are ready to reconnect between dips in the pool and hikes on spectacular desert trails. It all feels like paradise—until the dead body of a beautiful young woman who was vacationing at the Ara with her powerful, much older husband is discovered.
When the local police arrive and suspicion quickly falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to revisit memories from their upbringing in a cloistered cult in upstate New York, their dramatic escape, and the scandal that followed. Frida’s belief in Gabriel’s innocence never wavered at the time, but now even she can’t ignore the evidence mounting against him.
Alternating between past and present timelines, Our Last Resort builds toward a shattering climax that uncovers the fate of the murdered Ara guest and poses the question: how well do we ever really know those we love? Multi-layered, gripping, and intense, Clémence Michallon’s latest suspense novel is a nail-biter until the last page, cementing her status as a major new talent in the genre.
“Michallon masterfully weaves past cult abuse into a taut present-day procedural, blending psychological complexity with enough terror to make you white-knuckle your beach chair.” – Bethanne Patrick, Oprah Daily
“[A] heart-pounding thriller… perfect for fans of The White Lotus.” – Sara Levine, Katie Couric Media
“The novel offers mystery aplenty, but at its core, there is a deep and compassionate humanity.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Alternating between the present and the past, this story is full of dark twists, shocking surprises, and strong messages about love, lies, loyalty, trust, suspicion, control, and connection.” – Emily Melton, Booklist
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
fiction / romance.
It’s the early 1990’s in the small town of Crossmore, Ireland, and Lucy knows what she’s expected to do. Fall in love with the son of the farmer next door, marry him, pray for children, and never, under any circumstances reveal the truth–that she doesn’t think marriage or motherhood or staying in Crossmore is for her. That the reason she knows this, is because of her close friend, Susannah.
For years, Lucy buries her obsession, until one summer, right before graduation, when her friendship with Susannah escalates. Now, Lucy will do anything to keep their secret safe. Their relationship is both the best and worst thing that’s ever happened to her–Lucy loves Susannah, but every day, it feels like Crossmore, Lucy’s mother, and their social mores are closing in. And when Susannah decides she no longer wants to hide, Lucy must make a devastating choice.
Tender and heartbreaking, Sunburn portrays the realities of growing up in a small rural town–from the long, hot summers, to the pressures of a conservative, traditional community where everyone knows each other’s business. It’ll leave you aching for your own first love.
“The ecstasy and devastation of first love illuminate this tender debut from Howarth… Howarth’s wrenching and beautifully written bildungsroman captures Lucy’s slow and then suddenly fast journey into adulthood as she tries to find where she belongs. It’s enchanting.” – Publishers Weekly
“Lucy’s narration is a poetic victory, fueled by intense, penetrating prose that captures the collision of adolescent emotion from being ‘pulled in two very different directions’… A poignant, slow-burning portrait of queer youth, Sunburn follows a teenage girl’s navigation of desire, identity, and the cost of repression.” – Brooke Shannon, Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Sunburn offers us a peek into blistering adolescent angst, a furious fission of elemental feelings exploding, boiling and churning with huge undercurrents sending out massive uninhibited flares that disrupt expectations and apparent paths forward. Sunburn displays the real shocking power of following your heart and how that upends the world… A beautiful coming of age love novel written with an insightful poetical prose, rich with religious allegory and texture which underscores the transformative, spiritual power of first love explored.” – Eric Page, Scene Mag
Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair
fiction / fantasy / romance.
Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over… until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.
Frantic, Lilith turns to the only man who can help her: Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. His currency is information, and his power is extortion, though he’s always had a soft spot for Lilith. But when the dagger appears, he isn’t sure he can protect her from what’s to come.
Together, they embark on a mission to discover the true power running their world. As their lives intertwine, Lilith realizes Zahariev is more than just a friend, but their devotion to each other is a threat—to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.
“This reinvention of Lilith’s tale smoothly blends biblical lore, magic, and modern technology into a powerful beginning for St. Clair’s Blood of Lilith series.” – Frances Moritz, Booklist
“[A] sumptuous and steamy dark fantasy… St. Clair’s many fans will relish the introspective exploration of healing after sexual assault, living in life’s gray areas, and women reclaiming both power and rage.” – Publishers Weekly
“[A] sizzling paranormal romance crackling with darkness, danger and a touch of magic. Centered on a long misunderstood mythological figure, St. Clair breathes new life into an age old legend.” – B&N Reads
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean ★
fiction / romance.
Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.
Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.
But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.
A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.
“This steamy love-child of Succession and Elin Hilderbrand is a perfect beach read.” – Lacey Tobias, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“Longtime fans of MacLean’s historical novels will recognize her singular romance prowess in this tale of twisted family drama and unfortunate connections. It’s angsty and soaked in betrayal and raw passion. What more could you want?” – Kalyani Saxena, Washington Post
“You may think you know Sarah MacLean, but you’ve never seen her like this. These Summer Storms lures you in with a gothic setting and rich people behaving badly, but it’s the way MacLean layers that with the transformative power of grief and a sizzling romance that will have you recommending this book to everyone you know.” – Christina Lauren, People
“MacLean makes a departure from historical romance, but her dedicated readers will recognize her strong characterization—hardheaded Alice, serious Jack, uptight Elisabeth—and her ability to spin a tight plot with enough surprises to keep the pages turning… [a] pitch-perfect summer read.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani ★
fiction / romance.
Jess Capodimonte Baratta is not living the life of her dreams. Not even close.
In blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, family comes first. Recently divorced from Bobby Bilancia, “the perfect husband,” Jess moves into her parents’ basement to hide and heal. Jess is the overlooked daughter, who dutifully takes care of her parents, cooks Sunday dinner, and puts herself last. Despite her role as the family handmaiden, Jess is also a talented draftswoman in the marble business run by her dapper uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe).
When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, the shock unearths long-buried secrets that will force Jess to question her loyalty to those she trusted. Fueled by her lost dreams, Jess takes fate into her own hands and escapes to her ancestral home, Carrara, Italy.
From the shadows of the majestic marble-capped mountains of Tuscany, to the glittering streets of Milan, and on the shores of enchanting Lake Como (the other one), Jess begins to carve a place in this new/old world. When she meets Angelo Strazza, a passionate artist who works in gold, she discovers her own skills are priceless. But as Jess uncovers the truth about her family history, it will change the course of her life and those she loves the most forever. In love and work, in art and soul, Jess will need every tool she has mastered to reinvent her life.
Fed by the author’s cherished Italian roots comes a bighearted, hilarious novel of the moment: the story of one woman’s determination to live a creative life that matters, with enough room left over for love. With a one-way ticket to Italy, Jess is determined to write a new story on her own terms–this time, in stone.
“[A] heartfelt family saga that’ll have you itching for an invite to the Barattas’ Sunday dinner.” – Meaghan Kirby, E! News
“…this may be [Trigiani’s] best yet… Readers will be absolutely transported in this immersive, bighearted ode to family, history, and the importance of independence.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“This is the book Trigiani’s fans have been waiting for. Her hallmark charm and love of family, along with a touch of romance, make for a captivating and memorable read.” – Stacy Alesi, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“…everything an immersive summer read should be – fresh, funny and heart-wrenching, with perfectly imperfect characters that readers will feel deeply connected to. With its vivid depiction of the complexities of familial relationships, this contemporary novel is a love letter to big Italian American families, Old World roots, and daughters who learn to live life on their own terms.” – La Gazzetta Italiana
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware ★
fiction / suspense / mystery.
When the invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel—owned by reclusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann—arrives, it’s like the answer to a prayer. Three years after the birth of her youngest child, Lo Blacklock is ready to reestablish her journalism career, but post-pandemic travel journalism is a very different landscape from the one she left ten years ago.
The chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva is everything Lo’s ever dreamed of, and she hopes she can snag an interview with Marcus. Unfortunately, he proves to be even more difficult to pin down than his reputation suggests. When Lo gets a late-night call asking her to come to Marcus’s hotel room, she agrees despite her own misgivings. She’s greeted, however, by a woman claiming to be Marcus’s mistress, and in life-or-death jeopardy.
What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse pursuit across Europe, forcing Lo to ask herself just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save this woman… and if she can even trust her?
“…Ruth Ware delivers another riveting page-turner. Gripping from start to finish, this thrilling mystery takes a dark turn.” – B&N Reads
“An enjoyable visit with an old character…” – Kirkus Reviews
“[Ware] keeps the pace fast and the twists coming. This will satisfy the author’s fans.” – Publishers Weekly
“…I loved every minute of it… delivers all the twisty tension, European glamour, and claustrophobic suspense you’d expect… sleek, cinematic, and tense in that ‘I just need one more chapter’ kind of way. Ware does a great job of building dread without ever going over the top, and watching Lo navigate motherhood, ambition, and moral gray zones makes her feel more layered than ever.” – The Gloss
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