“The hardest part of a relationship isn’t staying with the people we love—it’s actually getting to know them.” – Grant Ginder, Grant: Mambo Merengue for Alto Saxophone
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett ★
fiction / fantasy / romance / historical fiction.
Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats.
Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse.
Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world… and may now be trying to steal her heart.
Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats…
“A perfect pick for readers who love Howl’s Moving Castle, cozy fantasy, romantasy, magic-induced pandemonium and—of course—cats.” – BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“Readers who liked the sweet, cat-based The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki will be enchanted.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“…the enchanting atmosphere, cute romance, and frisky feline supporting cast delight. Cat lovers will be especially pleased.” – Publishers Weekly
“…one has to admire the author’s acumen in finding the absolute sweet spot for a cozy fantasy, after all the other ones set in cafes and adorable little shops. It could seem either twee or a cynical grab at the market, but it’s neither; Fawcett clearly understands the complicated but rewarding relationship between humans and cats.” – Kirkus Reviews
American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology by Jon Meacham ★
nonfiction / history / politics.
In a polarized era, history can become a subject of political contention. Many see America as perfect; many others argue that the national experiment is fundamentally flawed. The truth, Meacham shows, likely lies between these extremes. America has had shining hours, and also dark ones.
In American Struggle, Jon Meacham illuminates the nation’s complicated past. This rich and diverse collection covers a wide spectrum of history, from 1619 to the twenty-first century, with primary-source documents that take us back to critical moments in which Americans fought over the meaning and the direction of the national experiment. From the founders to Lincoln to Obama, from Andrew Jackson to Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, from Seneca Falls to the March on Washington, this chorus—sometimes discordant and always fascinating—tells the story of the country and of its people. As clashes over liberty and slavery, inclusion and exclusion, play out, these voices, brilliantly framed by Meacham’s singular commentary, remind us that contentious citizenship and fair-minded observations are essential to bringing about the more perfect union envisioned in the Preamble to the Constitution, which Frederick Douglass called a “glorious liberty document.”
Conflict is nothing new in our democracy; rather, as Meacham and these texts show, tensions are inherent, stubborn, and perennial. And American Struggle teaches us anew that to know what has come before, to watch as long-running disputes rise and fall, is to be armed against despair.
“…stirring and worthwhile… there’s much powerful thought to soak up here.” – Publishers Weekly
“Evocative and impeccably curated—reframing America’s past to inform a more democratic and vigilant future.” – Kirkus Reviews
“With 115 speeches, letters, poems, and essays, historian Meacham’s anthology convinces readers that central to American life is an ongoing ‘struggle between the appetites of the few and… the aspirations of the many’ who want America to deliver on the founders’ promises.” – John Rowen, Booklist
“Encompassing the triumphs, struggles and challenges of American history from early colonialism to the present day, Jon Meacham offers a nuanced look at the country’s evolution and the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union.” – B&N Reads
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn ★
fiction / fantasy / historical fiction.
Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives… inside their favorite books.
The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?
“[A] beautifully bookish fantasy novel from one of the queens of historical fiction.” – Leandra Beabout, Reader’s Digest
“[A] love letter to the seductive sorcery of books.” – Hamilton Cain, Time
“Quinn’s first foray into fantasy is a bookish delight, with a heroine readers will root for as she finds her purpose and a hint of romance.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist
“[A] charming tale about the joy of reading and the necessity of public libraries… underdog Alix keeps the reader invested with her boisterousness and determination. Bookworms will be enchanted.” – Publishers Weekly
Bad Asians by Lillian Li
fiction.
Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian were always told that success is guaranteed by following a simple checklist. They worked hard, got A’s, and attended a good university―only to graduate into the Great Recession of 2008. Now, despite their newly minted degrees, they’re unemployed and stuck again under their parents’ roofs in a hypercompetitive Chinese American community. So when Grace―once the neighborhood golden child, now a Harvard Law School dropout―asks to make a documentary about the crew, they agree. It’s not like her little movie will ever see the light of day.
But then the video, Bad Asians, goes viral on an up-and-coming media platform (YouTube, anyone?). Suddenly, millions of people know them as cruel caricatures, each full of pent-up frustrations with the others. And after a desperate attempt at spin control further derails their plans for the lives they’d always imagined, the friends must face harsh truths about themselves and coming of age in the new millennium.
Lillian Li’s novel wryly captures a generation shaped by the rise of the internet and the end of the American dream. An epic tale of friendship and family, Bad Asians asks, Can the same people who made you who you are end up keeping you from who you’re meant to be?
“Questions for the ages, in a smart package.” – Emily Temple, Literary Hub
“…whip-smart… Throughout, Li offers piercing social commentary on the expectations placed on her characters and how those pressures were exacerbated by the Great Recession. Readers will tear through this.” – Publishers Weekly
“Li writes provocatively about relationships, achievement, identity, and loyalty, while expertly intertwining the unprecedented growth and influence of streaming platforms to define (and defile) reality. A resonating multigenerational friends-and-family epic enhanced with penetrating, biting social commentary.” – Terry Hong, Booklist
The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster by Shelley Puhak
nonfiction / history / biography / true crime.
There have long been whispers, coming from the castle; from the village square; from the dark woods. The great lady-a countess, from one of Europe’s oldest families-is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. When the king’s men force their way into her manor house, she has blood on her hands, caught in the act of murdering yet another of her maids. She is walled up in a tower and never seen again, except in the uppermost barred window, where she broods over the countryside, cursing all those who dared speak up against her.
Told and retold in many languages, the legend of the Blood Countess has consumed cultural imaginations around the world. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim- of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess’s downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness-a world where nothing is ever as it seems. In this exhilarating narrative, Puhak renders a vivid portrait of history’s most dangerous woman and her tumultuous time, revealing just how far we will go to destroy a woman in power.
“[Puhak] takes the tale of one woman and turns it into a portrait of an era… Puhak is a skillful guide through the thicket of political turmoil, weaponized accusations and palace intrigues… The legend is sordid, grisly and above all memorable. It’s also, Puhak writes, ‘much less terrifying than the truth.’” – Jennifer Szalai, New York Times
“This striking account from poet and historian Puhak separates the true story of Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Bathory from her blood-soaked mythology… a stunning feminist reconsideration of one of history’s most reviled villainesses.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] deeply researched, revelatory biography… Puhak’s level-headed analysis of the evidence, grounded in historical context, exposes the tragic ease with which a powerful woman may be attacked through innuendo and misinformation.” – Sara Shreve, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward
fiction / fantasy / romance.
In the deep, dark, dead of night, passions rise, and empires fall…
The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world.
No one is safe.
Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast within the walls of her small village because of her mystical abilities. She wants to survive… and find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.
Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.
She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen’s crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.
Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.
The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.
But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though desire runs hot between them, adventure, danger, and betrayal lurk around every corner.
“This series is just beginning, but you’ll be hooked from page one.” – B&N Reads
“With plenty of dangerous adventures, mysterious pasts, and smoldering looks, this exciting first book in the Kingdoms of the Compass series marks paranormal romance queen Ward’s outstanding entry into the romantasy genre.” – Linsey Milillo, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“Fans of Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series will appreciate her high-fantasy voice here, and romantasy fans will enjoy the effortless world building and slow-burn romance. Short chapters propel the action forward at a fast clip, and the final big reveal will leave readers eager for the next installment in the Kingdoms of the Compass series.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist
Everything Lost Returns by Sarah Domet
fiction / historical fiction.
1986. The Earthshine Soap Company has given Nona Dixon everything, from making her the brand’s first Earthshine Girl to launching her acting career. It also threatens to be the very thing that causes her to unravel when a group of Jane Does file a class action lawsuit accusing the company of putting harmful ingredients into their products. When Nona begins investigating Bertie Tuttle, the company’s third-generation owner, she uncovers a complicated history involving her benefactor and a mysterious woman named Opal Doucet.
1910. Seventy-six years earlier, Opal Doucet, a rural doctor’s wife, is pregnant, on the run, and desperate to get to Paris and to the charismatic spiritualist who supposedly communed with her first love. To save money, Opal goes to work in the Earthshine Soap factory as an Earthshine Girl where she uses her knowledge of medicine, and the spiritualist’s teachings, to prescribe cures to the women who’ve come down with mystery ailments. As she and Bertie Tuttle secretly partner in a labor strike intended to improve the working conditions at the factory, Opal must decide the cost of her own freedom.
Gorgeously written and intricately constructed, Everything Lost Returns is a story of desire and friendship, guilt and redemption, and the power we have, in our own small way, to change the course of history.
“[A] page-turner…” – Sophia Stewart, The Millions
“Who knew soap could be so dangerous?” – Kirkus Reviews
“…Sarah Domet tells two equally engaging, intermingled stories… Many themes—the flight of Halley’s Comet, mysticism, marital tensions, suicide, blood, sterility, fertility—run throughout the novel and connect the timelines… two beautifully written tales.” – Marlie Wasserman, Historical Novel Society
Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky ★
fiction / horror / comedy / historical fiction / suspense / mystery.
It’s 1974 and San Francisco is full of mystery and menace. Nineteen-year-old Celia Dent keeps telling herself how lucky she is to be working at the phone company and to be married to her Drew, a man who says he loves her. Celia’s contentment with her little life is shattered, though, when a woman she knows from work is murdered in a love tryst gone awry. What would that be like, Celia wonders, to die for love—or to kill for love? What would it be like to live each moment passionately and with full awareness that each breath is bringing her closer to her last?
Before Celia knows it, her musings about love-and-death happenings are bleeding into daily life. Suddenly she’s playing hooky from work and searching for a love tryst of her very own. She’s practicing her marksmanship at a local gun range and thinking about how good it would feel to bury something sharp inside her domineering husband’s ear. It’s all pretend, though, until the night comes when Celia finally goes too far, and she and Drew are set on a deadly collision course.
Exhilarating, surreal, and bitingly clever, Evil Genius is a comic noir exploring obsession and desire—and what happens when a sweetly seditious young woman dares to imagine a better life.
“Darkly charming, highly original, and fiendishly clever.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Ottessa Moshfegh’s Eileen meets Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho meets Barbara Loden’s Wanda meets all kinds of queer feminist theory in the latest from Claire Oshetsky, whose previous novel was named a ‘Best Book of 2024’ by The New Yorker. Against the backdrop of 1970s San Francisco, the fantasy gets a little too real for a 19-year-old daydreamer and phone company employee. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of humor in between the murder.” – Greta Rainbow, Bustle
“Celia’s mounting frenzy is rendered in razor-sharp prose, and Oshetsky blends noir sensibilities with their signature surrealism, effortlessly slipping between dark humor and unnerving sensuality. The result is thrilling.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“…Oshetsky ascends to the throne as the monarch of unreliable narrators… Although Evil Genius is set in mid-’70s San Francisco, it harks back to a noir convention established by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett nearly a hundred years ago… But Oshetsky twists expectations in a manner uniquely their own. They adroitly draw upon literary traditions without being bound by them, crafting a singular and captivating blend of noir and surrealism.” – Thane Tierny, BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
fiction / suspense / mystery.
After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie’s globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?
As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.
Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie’s true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.
Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?
“A true thriller, with plenty of horror movie-style scares, this had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. It’s also the perfect book to get anyone out of a reading slump.” – Ellis Cochrane, IGN
“Readers will hold their breath with every page, desperate to see who survives.” – Kerri Copus, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“This unrelentingly tense read combines the heart-pounding, claustrophobic terror of navigating tight tunnels and turns with the added horrors of being stalked by a killer. Thriller fans, take note!” – Mara Bandy Fass, Library Reads
A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides by Gisèle Pelicot; translated by Natasha Lehrer & Ruth Diver ★
nonfiction / memoir.
In 2024, Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity in her legal fight against her ex-husband and the fifty men accused of sexually assaulting her, a courageous decision that inspired millions of people around the world. Only four years prior, Gisèle had made the shattering discovery that her partner, Dominique Pelicot, had been secretly drugging and raping her, and inviting strangers to also abuse her in their home for nearly a decade. “Shame must change sides,” Gisèle bravely declared at the opening of the trial in Avignon, France, and the dictum soon became an international rallying cry to radically transform public sentiment and legislation surrounding cases of sexual violence. By the time Dominique and the dozens of men accused were found guilty three and a half months later, Gisèle had become a global figure, and her message—that she and other victims of sexual abuse have no reason to feel ashamed—galvanized a movement that triggered protests and demonstrations around the world.
In A Hymn to Life, Gisèle tells her story for the very first time, not as victim, but as witness. Beginning in 2020, when she received the first phone call from a local police station, Gisèle recounts the fateful investigation that turned her life inside out. With unwavering honesty and devastating grace, she retraces the steps of a life built over the course of five decades, the final decade of her marriage and its hidden abuse, and the long path of emotional healing that ensues. As Gisèle transcends the unfathomable traumas of her past, against all odds, she emerges with a renewed sense of passion and reverence for her life. Part memoir, part act of defiance, A Hymn to Life is a moving story of survival, testimony, and courage, and an unforgettable portrait of a woman who broke her silence, reclaimed her voice, and forced a reckoning.
“Hers is an odyssey through profound betrayal and dismay to becoming a fiery Marianne on the barricades, leading the charge for sweeping legal change.” – Hamilton Cain, Time
“In telling her own story Pelicot illustrates the urgent need for radical change in how we reckon with abuse and misogyny, both legally and societally.” – Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub
I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig
nonfiction / mystery.
Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong… without killing anyone, for once.
“[A] sparkling whodunit… Witty, fast-paced, and plenty surprising, Craig’s cracked cozy goes down smooth. It’s a delightfully twisted romp.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A fine mystery whose mordant humor makes it outstanding.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Craig clearly relies on his background as actor, comedian, and TV writer to achieve pitch-perfect timing in making murder most fun.” – Terry Hong, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis
fiction / romance / historical fiction.
In the serene town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Lily Webb is deeply in love with a charismatic boy, a college-bound quarterback whose spectacular athletic talents are matched only by his fierce devotion. But their dreams of a life together are cut short when his passionate protectiveness leads to an irrevocable choice—one that tears them apart and leads Lily down a path of heartbreak from which she may never recover.
Lily already knows the sting of loss, beginning with the death of her mother, a tragedy that left deep scars on both her and her gifted younger sister, Jane. Jane seeks escape in the abstract world of mathematics and quantum mechanics—when she can keep the demons that fuel her addictions at bay. As the years pass, Lily buries her twin griefs deep in her heart, finding solace and a new beginning with Marshall Middleton, a renowned ornithologist whose love is as steadfast as the migration patterns he studies. Yet the shadows of her past linger.
When the boy who was once everything to Lily reappears in her life, she struggles with questions around that terrible night in high school. Can she reconcile the wild wonderment of her first love with the comfort and safety of her second? Laws of Love and Logic explores love’s enduring power and the human spirit’s capacity for forgiveness and redemption.
“This one is book club catnip.” – Publishers Weekly
“Thought-provoking, hopelessly romantic, a pinch of tragedy—just the kind of novel to get lost in.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This debut novel explores love, grief, and the power of forgiveness. It is perfect for readers who enjoy the books of Kristin Hannah and Taylor Jenkins Reid.” – Linsey Milillo, Library Journal
Leaving Home: A Memoir in Full Colour by Mark Haddon
nonfiction / memoir.
An unflinching, brilliantly written, darkly funny, lavishly illustrated memoir by the acclaimed author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: A ringing testament about how one artist sees the world, and how his experiences have shaped his vision.
Simultaneously heart-breaking and hilarious, Leaving Home is a portrait of the artist both as a child and as an adult. His parents were not really cut out for the job of having children. They were cut out, respectively, for the jobs of designing abattoirs and keeping a pathologically clean and tidy house. At least he had the consolations of The Weetabix Solar System Wallchart, walnut whips and the occasional Babycham.
Astringently honest and scalpel sharp, this is a book about being different and seeing the world differently. It’s about being a cartoonist and a care assistant. It’s about family. It’s about knickerbocker glories and heart surgery, about papier mâché and mental breakdown and great white sharks. It’s about how art, in all its varied forms, provides a way of understanding and coming to terms with the mess of human life. It’s richly illustrated throughout with images from the author’s childhood, some of them altered in unforgiveable ways. As bracing as it is embracing, Leaving Home is about escaping a place that never felt like home and learning to create somewhere that does.
“[A] blistering memoir… fascinating… an incredibly detailed, painful, funny, horrifying and exhilarating record of how to live beside what has happened.” – Alex Clark, The Guardian
“[A] beautifully written, collage-like memoir… Haddon’s bracing, raw honesty reveals his struggle with mental illness, his love for his wife and two children, his views on spirituality, and the life-giving force of his writing… Haddon’s recollections create a moving cumulative effect; he gives readers the space to savor his epiphanies and arrive at their own.” – Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness
“[Haddon] writes with uncanny humor and endearing candor as he leapfrogs from childhood incidents to more recent struggles and discoveries… No matter how grim his experiences, Haddon turns anguish into compassion and kindness. As he reflects on his hard-tested loyalty to his parents and his love for his sister, wife, and children, Haddon is pithily hilarious, deeply insightful, and very moving. ” – Donna Seaman, Booklist
Mafia: A Global History by Ryan Gingeras
nonfiction / history / true crime.
In Mafia: A Global History, Ryan Gingeras takes readers on a fascinating journey into the shadowy world of organized crime and its far-reaching impact on contemporary society. From backroom deals to global power plays, this compelling narrative spans two centuries, unraveling the complex ties between crime syndicates and law enforcement—and how these relationships have reshaped both sides in unexpected ways.
Drawing on over a decade of in-depth research into the global drug trade, Gingeras profiles legendary figures like Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, El Chapo, and Dawood Ibrahim, bringing their stories to life while exposing how these mafias have tested the boundaries of state power. By challenging the law, these criminal networks force governments to adapt, leaving an indelible mark on governance, society, and the global economy.
Gingeras identifies three key spheres of transformation: the legal limits tested by mafias, their economic activities reflecting the Western bloc’s dominance in global trade, and their undeniable presence in pop culture. As crime syndicates continue to evolve in the 21st century, Gingeras highlights the alarming blurring of lines between gangsters, corporations, and political leaders—a trend that threatens to destabilize the global order.
For true crime fans and history buffs alike, Mafia is a must-read. With echoes of Mark Bowden’s Killing Pablo and Sam Quinones’s Dreamland, Gingeras delivers a masterful blend of storytelling and meticulous analysis that will leave you questioning just how much of the world around us is shaped by those operating in the shadows.
“…Gingeras writes well and joins the historical dots… for those who want to know how mafias began – especially those as fascinated by it all as Gingeras – this book may prove to be an offer they can’t refuse.” – Colin Freeman, The Telegraph
“A valuable historical reference on organized crime.” – Philip Zozzaro, Booklist
“…wide-ranging… A revealing study of organized crime and its many forms.” – Kirkus Reviews
On Morrison by Namwali Serpell ★
nonfiction / essays / literature.
Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic genius is often overshadowed by her monumental public persona, perhaps because, as Namwali Serpell puts it, “she is our only truly canonical black female writer—and her work is highly complex.” In On Morrison, Serpell brings her unique experience as both an award-winning writer and a professor who teaches a course on Morrison to illuminate her masterful experiments with literary form.
This is Morrison as you’ve never encountered her before, a journey through her oeuvre—her fiction and criticism, as well as her lesser-known dramatic works and poetry—with contextual guidance and original close readings. At once accessible and uncompromisingly rigorous, On Morrison is a primer not only on how to read one of the most significant American authors of all time but also on how to read great works of literature in general. This dialogue on the page between two black women artist-readers is stylish, edifying, and thrilling in its scope and intelligence.
“An impressive, nuanced work of scholarship.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“…illuminating and fascinating… Academic yet accessible, this astute collection offers insight and fresh perspectives and will appeal to readers new to and deeply familiar with Morrison’s vital body of work.” – Allison Escoto, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“[An] nsightful and stimulating exploration… Through exceptional close readings and sharp analyses, Serpell puts Morrison’s genius on full display. This will enthrall Morrison fans and cultivate new ones.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“[Serpell is] an absorbingly surgical critic… What Serpell’s written, devised, built is On Morrison, a novel-by-novel treatise on, inspection of, spelunking into, playing with Morrisonian philosophy, aesthetics, craft; and she might be having the time of her life… a revelation… There are moments in the assessments of each book, up through Paradise — novel No. 7 — and on almost every page of the chapter devoted to Jazz, where I could hear a sizzle… That’s the excitement of this book. An author whose mind I had already admired — whose thinking I love being confounded by, love stenciling with, love getting lost in, love reciting, love trying to understand, love reading other people’s attempts to understand — is being explored book by book by someone with the intellectual stamina and sense of rhythm to move with Morrison. Serpell can dance.” – Wesley Morris, New York Times
So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder ★
fiction.
For Marco and Mia, Sasha and Theo, Richie and Adam, the one constant in life after college together has been change. New jobs. New cities. New spouses. New children. Through it all, one thing they thought would always stay the same is their friendship.
But time has a way of breaking even the strongest bonds, and testing what we thought we knew. From East Village apartment parties and disastrous destination weddings, to fortieth birthdays and suburban backyard barbecues, Grant Ginder’s resonant, funny, and deeply moving novel is a story about the growing pains of the Millennial generation, and a celebration of how love can shift, stumble, and grow into something bigger than we ever could have imagined.
“Think of the latest novel from Ginder as The Big Chill meets Four Weddings and a Funeral for the millennial set.” – New York Times
“Ginder does not disappoint with this exploration of relatably flawed characters in a novel that is a terrific choice for book clubs.” – Margie Ticknor, Library Journal
“Ginder creates some genuinely hilarious, believable scenes tempered with touches of pathos. Fans of films like The Four Seasons, The Big Chill, and St. Elmo’s Fire will appreciate the witty banter, poignant moments, and dynamic interplay that Ginder skillfully orchestrates.” – Joelle Egan, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Ginder focuses his gaze on friends, not family, and offsets his trademark humor with pathos. The bittersweet mood of the proceedings renders his main characters and their actions more believable… Ginder rotates his characters’ perspectives, which results in a richly variegated narrative… Ginder hits far more often than he misses, routinely impressing with sharp dialogue, bold set-pieces, and compelling portrayals of enduring or foundering friendships. The book’s final section, comprising a reunion at a funeral, could have been mawkish but instead is moving… A riveting tale.” – Malcolm Forbes, Boston Globe
The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance.
Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.
Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.
The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.
“[A] whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.” – Elise Dumpleton, The Nerd Daily
“A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Using highly inventive and thematically rich worldbuilding, Griffin weaves a stunning fairy tale about love, commitment, and grief, expertly intertwining relatable growing pains of young adulthood with mythological burdens of epic proportions for a star-crossed romance that feels both fresh and instantly classic.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning City by Kate Brown
nonfiction / history / gardening.
Nurturing health, hope, and community, gardeners in cities and suburbs are reclaiming lost commons, transforming vacant lots into vibrant plots, turning waste into compost, and recreating what was once the most productive agriculture in recorded human history.
In a history that has been hidden in plain sight, working-class gardeners have consistently played an outsized role. In London, they devised ways to feed themselves when wage labor fell short. In Paris, a superabundance of horse manure in the streets nourished urban gardens that fed two million residents. In Berlin, gardeners built social safety nets for those marginalized by the state. In Washington, DC, African American migrants brought rural traditions of self-provisioning that were later disrupted by “urban renewal.” In rustbelt Mansfield, Ohio, farming ex-cons grow hope for the city’s future. In post-Soviet Estonia, shared gardens became lifelines for survival amid economic upheaval. And in Amsterdam, activists are reclaiming sustainable farming practices in a sinking landscape oversaturated with fertilizers.
Tilled into this rich history of urban agriculture is an inspiring layer of contemporary activism. Each chapter includes contemporary stories of people from all walks of life who, in their gardens, are continuing a great tradition of mutual aid, political resistance, and bold experiments in sustainability.
A manifesto for the next food revolution, Tiny Gardens Everywhere blends past and present, archive and experience, to offer a truly inspiring vision of the transformative potential of gardening and urban life.
“A riveting social history of the world, as seen through gardens.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Whatever its origin, a community garden represents the best of our collective care, for the land, and for each other.” – Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
fiction / suspense / mystery.
Who is watching Nell Masters?
Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.
Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path…
Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?
“Unexpected plot twists, in both the past and the present, keep the tension high and the pages turning.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This satisfyingly creepy novel is a solid addition to Paris’s collection of nail-biters, including Behind Closed Doors and The Guest.” – Susan Clifford Braun, Library Journal
“Nell’s flawed relatability will pull readers into her fight for resolution and survival as Paris seamlessly weaves dual timelines of Nell’s past obsession and current threats with her stalker’s chilling commentary.” – Christine Tran, Booklist
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
fiction / romance / historical fiction / mystery.
Leigh is the last of the Wildes. She knows this because she watched them all die.
Grief never truly fades and even as the tragedy haunts her, Leigh carries on, because survival is in her blood. So, when the transport bus taking her to prison careens off the road, killing everyone onboard except her, she does what’s in her nature. She survives.
While searching for a place to hide, Leigh stumbles upon an unexpected sanctuary: a flower farm in rural Alabama tucked away from the world. What Leigh doesn’t expect is the found family there who have built something from the wreckage of their own lives. Especially Jackson, the farm’s owner, who sees through Leigh’s defenses, offers her small moments of tenderness, encourages her to face her own tragedies. Slowly, Leigh finds peace with the hard pace and soft nature of the farm, taking comfort in the life blooming around her. Maybe she’s not beyond redemption, not too broken for something good. And maybe, just maybe, Leigh starts to heal.
But the past isn’t so easily buried.
No matter how far she runs, the truth of who she is and the ghosts of the Wildes follow. And when those secrets catch up to her, threatening everything she’s come to love, Leigh will have to truly face what she can survive.
“Shelton Harris delicately unfurls Leigh’s story, threading in details from the past to help the reader understand Leigh’s reluctance to be seen, making every moment she opens up all the more rewarding to witness. Book clubs and readers who love stories of found family and women triumphing over hardship won’t want to miss this one.” – Halle Carlson, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Themes of grief, betrayal, love, and trauma are navigated with Harris’s signature compassion; her sentences and epiphanies will cause readers to pause to fully digest the novel’s insights and each character’s metamorphosis.” – Tina Panik, Library Journal
“Where the Wildflowers Grow tackles tough topics like death, survival, trauma, and healing with great ease while gifting readers with beautiful and colorful characters that speak to matters of the heart.” – Lynnette Nicholas, Essence
Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson
fiction / romance / mystery / comedy.
Penelope Mae Dupont has one superpower: keeping her cool. Which is essential when you’re the personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a luxury book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven–a glittering cast of seven bestselling authors known for both their brilliance and their drama–her trademark composure starts slipping. One boat. Seven egos. Hundreds of fans. What could possibly go wrong?
Well… murder, for starters.
On day two, Hugh is found dead–and the cruise security team proves to be utterly incompetent. Stranded in the middle of the Atlantic with no help in sight, Pip realizes if anyone’s going to solve the case, it’ll have to be her. And so, with her friend and ally Nash, the dreamy Western author who’s just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about, she puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test.
As Pip and Nash navigate an ocean of secrets, shocking twists, and one too many red herrings, she’ll have to decide whether she’s meant to stay behind the scenes–or finally step into the spotlight… and maybe, just maybe, find love along the way.
“Ferguson’s fun romance has something for everyone: a large and vibrant cast of characters, a bookish storyline, a cozy locked-boat mystery, a slow-burn love story, comedic hijinks, and a dash of thrills.” – Migdalia Jimenez, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“…light-hearted, cleverly plotted and great fun.” – Laura Black, All About Romance
“It’s no mystery why Without a Clue is such a fun read — it’s got a sweet friends-to-lovers romance, a heroine whose personal growth you’ll be cheering on and a murder mystery full of twists. I enjoyed every nautical mile. And I bet you will, too.” – Bellamy Rose, People
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