“You need a reason to be sad. You don’t need a reason to be happy.” – Louis Sachar, Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Blessings and Disasters: A Story of Alabama by Alexis Okeowo ★
nonfiction / memoir / history.
“In Alabama, we exist at the border of blessing and disaster…”
Alexis Okeowo grew up in Montgomery—the former seat of the Confederacy—as the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. Here, she weaves her family’s story with Alabama’s, defying stereotypes about her endlessly complex, often-pigeonholed home state. She immerses us in a landscape dominated today not by cotton fields but by Amazon warehouses, encountering high-powered Christian business leaders lobbying for tribal sovereignty and small-town women coming out against conservative politics. Okeowo shows how people can love their home while still acknowledging its sins.
In this perspective-shifting work that is both an intimate memoir and a journalistic triumph, Okeowo investigates her life, other Alabamians’ lives, and the state’s lesser-known histories to examine why Alabama has been the stage for the most extreme results of the American experiment.
“New Yorker staff writer Okeowo offers a wide-ranging and nuanced account of her home state… Probing and sumptuously written, this makes for an entrancingly ground-level and empathetic view of Alabama’s past and present.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Okeowo delivers a portrait of a past-haunted place that is at once empathetic, sad, and troubling.” – Kirkus Reviews
“In a place where memories of the Confederacy coexist with civil rights history, Okeowo skillfully unpacks both the pride and pain of the state’s complicated legacy.” – Bridget Thoreson, Booklist
“With a keen eye for detail and a thoughtful big-picture perspective, Okeowo paints a layered portrait of a state whose green fields contain more heartbreak and more hope than most people realize. Alabama is more than cotton, Confederate flags, and civil rights, and Okeowo’s book is a nuanced look at a place she wrestles with and will always love.” – Katie Noah Gibson, Shelf Awareness
The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick
nonfiction / biography / history / music.
In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker—manager of the number-one country music star of the day—heard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than eight hundred people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: “We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is ELVIS PRESLEY.” Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his own: “Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me… I love you like a father.”
The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel has never been fully portrayed before. It was a relationship founded on mutual admiration and support. From the outset, the Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives, Elvis’s own booking agents, and movie moguls. But in their final years together, the story grew darker, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself or control growing problems of his own.
Featuring troves of previously unpublished correspondence, revelatory for both its insights and emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making) by Peter Guralnick, the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as they’ve never been seen before: with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display.
“A fascinating look at a truly unique personality and his direction of Elvis’ career.” – Kirkus Reviews
“With unique access to an incredible stash of correspondence, Guralnick reveals Parker’s charm, humor, genius, and audacity, depicting a genuine person, not the sinister Svengali of other accounts.” – Ben Segedin, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Guralnick’s brisk prose, assiduous attention to detail, and generous insights make this both an engrossing study of the complex interpersonal dynamics between two outsize personalities and a revealing peek into the making one of rock ’n’ roll’s biggest acts. Presley fans won’t be able to put this down.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
fiction / suspense / mystery / horror.
When infamous chef, restaurateur, and television personality Maria Capello’s husband died, the media circus was intense… and quick to cast the blame. Whispers claimed Maria murdered her husband to build her culinary empire on his bones, and that there was an all-too-grisly reason his body was never recovered. Yet for the past few decades, the Capello family maintained their stoney silence—until now.
Thea Woods has no idea why she was chosen to work with Maria on her sure-to-be-infamous memoir, but she doesn’t question her luck. Spirited away to the Capello’s rustic upstate farm, she’s soon embroiled in the mystery—and cut off from the rest of the world. It should be the job of a lifetime, but something’s not quite right with the close-knit clan, and Damien Capello isn’t the only one to go mysteriously missing over the years. As the true story of Maria’s past unfolds and the stench of rot hidden behind the kind coastal grandmother veneer rises, Thea finds herself trapped… and desperately afraid.
Because there are reasons why Damien’s body was never found… and why, in over thirty years, Maria Capello has never revealed the secret ingredient in her most famous recipe.
“[A] delectable culinary thriller… This book made me so hungry…” – Molly Odintz, CrimeReads
“…deliciously dark… Suspense fans won’t be able to put this down.” – Publishers Weekly
“[A] tasty and wildly macabre story that foodies and horror fans will also devour, probably in one big gulp… The author lives in a purportedly haunted house outside of New York City and knows how to write seriously good spooky stuff.” – Jane Murphy, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Disney Adults: Exploring (and Falling in Love with) a Magical Subculture by AJ Wolfe
nonfiction / memoir / sociology.
Disney Adults are grown-ups who derive singular, almost obsessive, joy from all things Disney. They devote countless hours and millions of dollars to Disney offerings, whether or not they have children. They’re avid fans of the films, devotees of the Disney theme parks, collectors of the vast world of Disney merchandise, cosplayers who dress in clothing inspired by Disney characters.
Their ranks are so large and their cultural impact so distinct that they have their own moniker and are an economic force unto themselves. They’re often maligned in the larger culture and put on a particularly high pedestal of cringe. But in truth, their obsessive fandom hints at a universal desire for pleasure and joy, for magic and escape.
There are darker sides to Disney mania that can’t be ignored, but the ranks of the Disney Adult community are broad, deep, and ever-growing. Disney Adults are a telling microcosm of modern America, highlighting the value we place on magic and escapism, and what we deem to be “acceptable” sources of joy.
Disney Adults dives deep into a misunderstood subculture, exploring the lives and experiences of a fascinating community to better understand its devotees’ unwavering passion for all things Disney, why it offends, and why it matters.
“A charming read for any Disney adult or anyone interested in the sociology of pop culture fandom.” – Amanda Ray, Library Journal
“Wolfe’s vulnerability is laudable… fellow die-hards will take solace from [her] candor.” – Publishers Weekly
Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland by Martha Barnette
nonfiction / memoir / history / language.
Martha Barnette has spent two decades as the co-host of A Way with Words, lauded by Mary Norris in The New Yorker as “a virtual treasure house” and “Car Talk for Lexiphiles.”
Over that time, she’s developed a keen sense of what fascinates people about language. They are curious about etymology and revel in slang, are surprised by regional vocabulary and celebrate linguistic diversity. Idioms both puzzle and delight word lovers, and they are eager to share family neologisms and that weird phrase Grandma always used to say.
In Friends with Words, Barnette weaves together all these strands in a clear, informative, highly entertaining exploration of language. Chock-full of anecdotes, humorous asides, new words, trivia, and other lexicological delights, Friends with Words also tells Barnette’s story—from her Appalachian roots through her study of Ancient Greek, and on to the making of a beloved and enduring show. Friends with Words is an expert, good-humored, joyful book.
“With a conversational tone and an infectious sense of curiosity, Barnette makes a strong case for the mundane magic of words. It’s a joyful account that will delight fans of Lynne Truss.” – Publishers Weekly
“…the fact is that I would die for Martha Barnette…” – Sophia M. Stewart, The Millions
“[Barnette’s] engaging, curious, and friendly on-air style translates well to the page… Ideal for word and language lovers…” – Caren Nichter, Library Journal
Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella
fiction / mystery / romance.
Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York City. Her wealthy friends are married and having babies, while she’s trying to pay for freezing her eggs. And the future she longs for feels out of reach.
Then, a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a gift: a bespoke perfume.
One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man’s desire, and she can satisfy her own hungers for sex, love, and ambition. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarified spaces that once excluded her. Invigorated by the perfume, Iris embodies her maximum power—a flower fully bloomed.
But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire she barely survived return to haunt her. As Iris ventures deeper into the glamorous and male-dominated worlds of New York real estate, dimly-lit steakhouses, and beachfront mansions in the Hamptons, she finds herself getting closer to unspeakable truths—about the people she trusted, about the people she loved, and about the new circle of power-players that invited her in.
A sensual and seductive novel set among the upper echelons of New York City, Full Bloom is at once a poignant story of becoming and a riveting mystery that asks: Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get you what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?
“…beautifully written… This engaging story is part mystery, part romance, and infused with a hint of magic; an excellent choice for book groups.” – Stacy Alesi, Library Journal
“Serritella vividly portrays the intricacies of office politics and dating, and makes it easy to root for Iris as she seeks fulfillment on her own terms. Readers are in for a treat.” – Publishers Weekly
“[A] heartfelt story of ambition and resilience. This novel would make an excellent pick for book groups; in addition to its heady themes, it’s sure to spark curiosity about (and within) the world of perfume.” – Zeja Z. Copes, Booklist
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis ★
fiction / horror / historical fiction / fantasy / mystery.
Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbank to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.
The truth is that though the inhabitants of Little Nettlebed have never much liked the Mansfield girls—a little odd, think some; a little high on themselves, perhaps—they’ve always had plenty to say about them. As the rotating perspectives of five villagers quickly make clear, now is no exception. Even if local belief in witchcraft is waning, an aversion to difference is as widespread as ever, and these conflicting narratives all point to the same ultimate conclusion: Something isn’t right in Little Nettlebed, and the sisters will be the ones to pay for it.
A richly atmospheric parable of the pleasures and perils of female defiance, The Hounding considers whether in any age it might be safer to be a dog than an unusual young girl.
“A taut, tense tale, impeccably told.” – Financial Times
“…simmers with atmosphere and foreboding… a beautifully written, absorbing book, full of atmosphere and rich imagery. Uncertainty and anxiety run through every page, and it’s appropriately billed as a cross between The Crucible and The Virgin Suicides.” – Kate Braithwaite, Historical Novel Society
“Purvis’ suspenseful and sure-footed debut breathes vivid life into its arresting concept.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] haunting exploration of turn-of-the-18th-century England… Purvis’s incisive tale may well leave readers asking how much the plight of women–and society–has changed in the years since… With hints of superstition akin to Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and the puritanical overtones of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Purvis’s The Hounding taps into universal themes of fear, violence, lust, and also empathy.” – Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness
If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
fiction / romance.
Clementine Clark isn’t looking for love. Growing up with a single mom who weeps over a new guy each week tends to have that effect on a girl. But Clementine doesn’t mind being the rational one—she’s even buried her musical dreams so deeply within herself that she hardly notices the hole it’s left in her life.
That is until her best friend calls her with a life-changing opportunity: to join Irish megastar Halloran on his first US tour as a backing vocalist. Clementine wants to reject the offer, but the pay is enough to change her and her mom’s life. Overnight, Clementine goes from serving enchiladas at the Happy Tortilla to belting high notes before a cheering crowd.
But the whiplash of trading small-town Texas for sold-out stadiums is nothing compared to the rush of performing with the enigmatic Thomas Patrick Halloran. Poet, introvert, and lyrical genius, Halloran quickly gets under Clementine’s skin. The two couldn’t see the world more differently. And yet, over the course of the next eight weeks on tour, the romantic rockstar might just strike an unforgettable chord in Clementine. But will it be enough for an encore?
“…irresistible… a smart, sexy rock ’n’ roll tale that delivers both heat and heart.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Romantasy writer Golden’s first contemporary romance is full of passion, heart, and harmony; a standout in the genre.” – Ashli Wells, Library Journal
“Swirling melodies, an all-encompassing love, and an eye-opening trek from one US coastline to the other, If Not for My Baby took rock star romance to all new dazzling heights.” – Sara, Harlequin Junkie
The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life by Graham Watson
nonfiction / biography.
Charlotte Brontë had a life as seemingly dramatic as her heroine Jane Eyre. Turning her back on her tragic past, Charlotte reinvented herself as an acclaimed author, a mysterious celebrity, and a passionate lover. Doing so meant burning many bridges, but her sudden death left her friends and admirers with more questions than answers.
Tasked with telling the truth about Brontë’s life, her friend, the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, uncovered secrets of illicit love, family discord, and professional rivalries more incredible than any fiction. The result, a tell-all biography, was so scandalous it was banned and rewritten twice in six months—but not before it had given birth to the legend of the Brontës.
The Invention of Charlotte Brontë presents a different, darker take on one of the most famous women writers of the nineteenth century, showing Charlotte to be a strong but flawed individual. Through evaluating key events as well as introducing new archival material into the story, this lively biography challenges the established narrative to reveal the Brontë family as they’ve never been seen before.
“With the gravitas of scholarship and the magnetism of fiction, Watson shines new light on two extraordinary writers.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Well-researched and beautifully paced, this biography does not completely rewrite Brontë’s story. Still, it will layer onto it grief and anger in ways that further humanize the woman, the writer, and her works.” – Emily Bowles, Library Journal
“Watson masterfully covers the contentious biography Gaskell wrote, which she had to rewrite twice to placate those upset about their portrayal. This fast-moving account of literary fame satisfies.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion, and Catastrophic Miscalculation by Scott Anderson ★
nonfiction / history / politics.
On New Year’s Eve, 1977, on a state visit to Iran, President Jimmy Carter toasted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King of Kings, Light of the Aryans, Shadow of God on Earth, praising Iran as “an island of stability” due to “your leadership and the respect and admiration and love which your people give to you.” Iran had the world’s fifth largest army and was awash in billions of dollars in oil revenues. Construction cranes dotted the skyline of its booming capital, Tehran. The regime’s feared secret police force SAVAK had crushed communist opposition, and the Shah had bought off the conservative Muslim clergy inside the country. He seemed invulnerable, and invaluable to the United States as an ally in the Cold War. Fourteen months later the Shah fled Iran into exile, forced from the throne by a volcanic religious revolution led by a fiery cleric named Ayatollah Khomeini. The ensuing hostage crisis forever damaged America’s standing in the world. How could the United States, which had one of the largest CIA stations in the world and thousands of military personnel in Iran, have been so blind?
The spellbinding story Scott Anderson weaves is one of a dictator blind to the disdain of his subjects and a superpower blundering into disaster. Scott Anderson tells this astonishing tale with the narrative brio, mordant wit, and keen analysis that made his bestselling Lawrence in Arabia one of the key texts in understanding the modern Middle East. The Iranian Revolution, Anderson convincingly argues, was as world-shattering an event as the French and Russian revolutions. In the Middle East, in India, in Southeast Asia, in Europe, and now in the United States, the hatred of economically-marginalized, religiously-fervent masses for a wealthy secular elite has led to violence and upheaval – and Iran was the template. King of Kings is a bravura work of history, and a warning.
“…masterly… This is an exceptional and important book. Scrupulous and enterprising reporting rarely combine with such superb storytelling. Anderson leavens his sweeping and complex chronicle with rich character portraits…” – Mark Bowden, New York Times
“An eye-opening history of how Iran became a point on the ‘axis of evil’ and is considered such a dangerous enemy today.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“King of Kings is a sweeping, gripping book, one that makes past times and dead people (often weird, complex and evil) spring to life with its narrative verve and attention to detail… riveting…” – Tunku Varadarajan, Wall Street Journal
“Chaos is strewn by foolhardy leaders acting on bad information in this riveting history of the Iranian revolution… Anderson’s story builds a rushing momentum as one miscalculation after another hurtles the country toward the 1979 ‘revolution few saw coming and no one knew how to stop.’ The result is an illuminating, operatic depiction of the revolution as a farcical cavalcade of arrogant mistakes with dire consequences.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
fiction / suspense / mystery.
Was it…
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?
Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it’s the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.”
Amanda doesn’t trust Georgia, but she can’t abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that’s so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?
Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.
Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.
“The twists and turns will have readers breathlessly rushing through the final pages.” – Kaite Mediatore, Library Reads
“[A] deliciously twisty psychological thriller… A fascinating, detailed dive into psych ward indignities and dangers, along with a puzzle over whether Georgia is guilty or innocent. Riveting from start to shattering finish.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar ★
fiction / fantasy / historical fiction.
Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia’s father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the “wedding of the century,” Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe.
The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy. But after a long series of failures—the latest being an attempt to transform sand into gold—he has become the object of contempt and ridicule. The only one who still believes in him is the princess.
When the king orders Anatole to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding, Anatole is faced with an impossible choice. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will he betray the princess—or risk ruin?
“…creative and endearing… like a zany Dungeons & Dragons campaign played with friends… It’s funny, surprising, smart and weird, and fully lives up to the high bar you’d expect from a great like Sachar.” – Donna Edwards, AP
“A cozy fantasy novel brimming with Sachar’s classic humor.” – Michelle Morris, Library Reads
“…melancholy, heartfelt, and utterly immersive… Readers who grew up with Sachar will be especially thrilled, but even those new to his work won’t be able to put this down.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A sensitive and sincere tale told with Sachar’s inimitable wit.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders by Joshua Sharpe
nonfiction / true crime / history.
In 1985, a white man walked into a South Georgia church and brutally murdered Harold and Thelma Swain, two pillars of the area’s Black community. The killer vanished into the night. For fifteen years, the case remained unsolved. Then authorities zeroed in on Dennis Perry, a carpenter who grew up nearby. Convicted with devastatingly flawed evidence, Perry received a double life sentence.
When award-winning journalist and South Georgia native Joshua Sharpe retraces the case, he discovers a winding path of corruption, devastating missteps, and secrets. Driven by the pursuit of the truth, Sharpe’s investigation takes him through dusty courthouse archives, down winding dirt roads, and into intense interviews. But he keeps knocking on doors—even after they’re slammed in his face. Sharpe uncovers explosive evidence that helps prove Dennis Perry’s innocence. And he confronts a long-ignored suspect: an alleged white supremacist who had bragged about committing the murders.
But the fight for the truth is not easily won. When a key figure in the investigation turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Sharpe’s sources and editors insist that he could be in danger. And even as evidence mounts of Perry’s innocence, local officials work to keep him in prison—until Sharpe’s reporting forces the state to launch a new investigation—thirty-five years after the Swains’ murders. Driven by Sharpe’s tireless reporting, The Man No One Believed tells the unbelievable story of one of the most confounding cases in Georgia history, the extraordinary fight to free an innocent man, and how state officials worked against the odds to deliver justice for the Swains after all.
Both a riveting true crime story and a searing indictment of American injustice, The Man No One Believed is a gripping work of literary journalism—a moving examination of how we reckon with the sins of our past.
“…riveting… a gripping, infuriating, and enlightening work of true crime whose real-world impact can be felt on every page.” – Publishers Weekly
“A skillfully constructed spiderweb of a true-crime, cold-case narrative.” – Kirkus Reviews
“In the end, The Man No One Believed inspires powerful, mixed emotions: fury at the failings of the justice system, and gratitude for organizations like the Georgia Innocence Project and indefatigable journalists like Sharpe. He deserves the victory lap he has taken in this illuminating book.” – Julia M. Klein, Washington Post
Open Wide by Jessica Gross
fiction.
Olive is desperate to get close to Theo—really, really close. She’s always struggled to connect with people. And now she’s in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social cues and find a way to be less alone.
Then Theo turns up for a shift at the same food pantry where she volunteers. He’s a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former soccer player, and possibly as weird as Olive.
For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording of Theo is a balm, which just makes Olive more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo’s front teeth is just wide enough for something—or someone—to slip inside.
Arresting and immersive, Open Wide explores the complexities of intimacy, love and consent, as universal human impulses bleed into the surreal.
“A rom-com inside a body horror story, or a philosophical examination of love as obsession.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Just how close can two people get? Port Washington native Jessica Gross’ unnerving answer to that question places her squarely in the current crew of thrillingly weird and funny women writers like Ottessa Moshfegh, Raven Leilani, and Miranda July.” – Marion Winik, Newsday
“…without giving anything away, because I am glad that I was not prepared for what actually happens: the promised derangement is much more deranged than [expected]. It’s funny and demented and a little stupid, which I mean as a compliment, and when it starts, it doesn’t stop. Gross is excellent at pushing things to their logical conclusion, and then pushing them a little further than that, which is honestly all I want in my literature.” – Emily Temple, Literary Hub
People Like Us by Jason Mott ★
fiction.
People Like Us is Jason Mott’s electric new novel. It is not memoir, yet it has deeply personal connections to Jason’s life. And while rooted in reality, it explodes with dreamlike experiences that pull a reader in and don’t let go, from the ability to time travel to sightings of sea monsters and peacocks, and feelings of love and memory so real they hurt.
In People Like Us, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. And as their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds.
People Like Us is wickedly funny and achingly sad all at once. It is an utter triumph bursting with larger-than-life characters who deliver a very real take on our world. This book contains characters experiencing deep loss and longing; it also is buoyed by riotous humor and characters who share the deepest love. It is the newest creation of a writer whose work amazes, delivering something utterly new yet instantly recognizable as a Jason Mott novel.
Finishing the novel will leave you absolutely breathless and, at the same time, utterly filled with joy for life, changed forever by characters who are people like us.
“Populated by larger-than-life characters, this tour de force is at once gut-bustingly funny and deeply moving.” – People
“Jump in for a full-force, visceral ride.” – Leah Shepherd, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“…one of the year’s best novels… riveting… Satiric but also big-hearted, People Like Us is a hugely ambitious book… a work that insists we must keep trying to put together words that help each other make sense of the world.” – Chris Hewitt, Minnesota Star Tribune
“Mott’s writing is electric. Sentences zing with the energy of darts. But all that riz ultimately serves to convey a lacerating critique of American gun violence. File this one under ‘genre-bending tour-de-force.’” – Brittany Allen, Literary Hub
“Filled with highlightable quotes and moments that make you stop and look around to see if anyone else is experiencing what you’re reading, Mott’s People Like Us echoes the pain and mystery of where life leads, the choices it hands us and the hope and desire for change.” – Clare Solly, AP
Songs for Other People’s Weddings by David Levithan; songs by Jens Lekman
fiction / romance.
J is an accidental wedding singer. Unlike most wedding singers, he writes an original song for every couple—his way of finding out about the small, strange things that brought them together and the hopeful, vulnerable feelings they’re experiencing.
J’s own love life is in a state of flux. His girlfriend is off to New York for work, and as her life grows bigger and busier without him in it, he finds it harder to stick to a happy tune. He doesn’t know whether to encourage the soon-to-be-wed couples or warn them.
When complications hit and love is tested, is there any way to sing through all the noise?
Combining David Levithan’s deeply observant storytelling and Jens Lekman’s inventive and touching original songs, Songs for Other People’s Weddings is a tender, honest novel that tracks love through all its chord changes, never forgetting that the best songs contain the bitter and the sweet, the despair of losing it all and the euphoria of being found.
“Much like a good love song, this story demands to be felt.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Relationships can be messy, and what better way to capture the ebb and flow of romance than through song. David Levithan and Jens Lekman’s lyrical concoction is a heartfelt, relatable, and at times wistful exploration of human connection.” – B&N Reads
“…beautifully bittersweet… a refreshingly honest take on the many shapes and sizes romance can take as well as both the hope and heartbreak that falling in love can bring.” – John Charles, Booklist
Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin ★
nonfiction / music / biography / history.
From the opening piano notes of “Thunder Road,” to the final outro of “Jungleland” – with American anthems like “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” in between – Bruce Springsteen’s seminal album, Born to Run, established Springsteen as a creative force in rock and roll. With his back against the wall, he wrote what has been hailed as a perfect album, a defining moment, and a roadmap for what would become a legendary career.
Peter Ames Carlin, whose bestselling biography, Bruce, gave him rare access to Springsteen’s inner circle, now returns with the full story of the making of this epic album. Released in August, 1975, Born to Run now celebrates its 50th anniversary. Carlin reveals a treasure trove of untold stories, detailing the writing and recording of every song, as well as the intense and at times tortuous process that mimicked the fault lines in Springsteen’s psyche and career, even as it revealed the depth of his vision. A must-read for any music fan, Tonight in Jungleland takes us inside a hallowed creative process and lets us experience history.
“…endlessly entertaining… A must for Springsteen fans and admirers of the album.” – June Sawyers, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“…magnificent… what makes this book remarkable is what almost wasn’t — his most perfect album.” – Edward Banchs, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Looking back after 50 years sometimes involves nostalgia, but Carlin admirably maintains a sense of immediacy. This book is an exemplary rock history, by turns poetic and gritty.” – Barry Zaslow, Library Journal
“…captivating… Carlin takes a fascinating look at the challenges of making an album whose success now seems inevitable, exploring what drives artists to create as well as how their relationship with their work can shift as it becomes part of popular culture. Springsteen fans should snap this up.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
fiction / suspense / mystery.
You’ve known her all your life. Or have you?
Tasha and her older sister Alice may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. Tasha’s married with two children and still lives in their hometown near Bristol. Alice is a high-flying scientist who travels the world with her equally successful husband.
Yet each sister would trust the other with her life.
When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands.
She couldn’t be more wrong.
The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.
Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:
It was supposed to be you…
Every family has secrets. Some more deadly than others.
“With this addition, best-selling domestic thriller author Douglas upholds her solid reputation within a wildly popular genre.” – Joelle Egan, Booklist
“This novel is full of suspense and secrets, and has great twists that will leave readers guessing.” – Magan Szwarek, Library Reads
“…delivers a powerful ending that includes an impossible decision.” – Amy Wilson, Novels Alive
Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
fiction / romance / fantasy / comedy / horror.
When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she’s stunned to be saved by him—and his ridiculously large sword—instead. As it turns out, he’s actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbor’s newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston “Max” Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can’t risk more innocent people getting killed, though—and Max won’t let her save them alone.
As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they’re not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who’s helping her save the world… but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you’d die for—and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that’s a risk she’s willing to take.
“…bloody good fun. Readers will come for Dade’s trademark snappy sense of wit, magnetic sexual chemistry, and delightfully detailed love scenes and then stay for the ingeniously entertaining cast of characters.” – John Charles, Booklist
“Dade’s hilarious, ridiculous, and steamy paranormal romance is full of puns and witty banter. The plot is fantastic, and readers will be turning pages long into the night to find out what happens next.” – Heather Miller Cover, Library Journal
“Humor, drama, and spice are perfectly balanced in Zomromcom. Edie and Max are richly characterized with delicious banter, and I easily fell into their post-zombie apocalypse world. Crossing my fingers for a sequel!” – Cierra Cook, The Indie Next List
-
-
-
-
-