“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.” – Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop

All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir by Emilee Hackney

nonfiction / memoir / history / religion.

Born and raised deep in the hollers of the Appalachian Mountains, Emilee Hackney knew little beyond the ridgelines and coalfields of southwest Virginia. As an eighth-generation Appalachian, her childhood was steeped in the stories of her grandparents—tales of the coal mines’ brutal grip and the way the land, both beautiful and unforgiving, never quite let anyone go. At fourteen, Emilee meets Sam, a senior at her high school, who offers her a glimpse at a promising future together. But as they begin attending services at Deliverance Christian Church as a couple, Emilee is thrust into the radical realm of Pentecostalism. In a culture where marriage at nineteen isn’t uncommon, Emilee is engaged to Sam. Eager to make her relationship work, she embraces the extremist doctrines of the religion, submitting herself fully to God, to Sam, and to a life of repentance. But what she doesn’t yet know is the man she plans to marry is not who he claims to be.

Years later, Emilee finds herself isolated from friends, family, and her own sense of truth. Wracked with shame and self-doubt, she reaches a breaking point. On the verge of spiraling out of control, in a stunning act of defiance and hope, she applies to Harvard; against all odds, she is accepted. From the magisterial mountains of Tazewell to the storied halls of Cambridge, Emilee begins the arduous process of reinventing herself and her relationships with her home, faith, and values against the backdrop of the divisive 2016 election. All That’s Unseen is Emilee Hackney’s fiercely honest memoir about spiritual entrapment, hard-won liberation, and the courage to reclaim her voice after she had been taught to stay silent.

“[An] unflinching new memoir… All That’s Unseen is a gripping exploration of identity, class, religion and a large swath of American life that is fighting with all its might to survive.” – Suzanne Van Atten, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“…thought-provoking… Hackney examines the explosive intersection of charismatic Christianity, misogyny, and young love, and offers an inspiring testament to writing one’s way out. This heartfelt missive successfully humanizes hot-button subjects.” – Publishers Weekly

“…compelling… Hackney writes as though readers are sitting at a coffee shop talking to an old friend; her irrepressible spirit and drive to make something of her life making her instantly relatable. She paints a picture of Appalachia that counters its mainstream media gloom without shying away from portraying the area’s problems, bringing a refreshing blend of realism and hope.” – Carrie Rasak, Booklist

Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli ★

fiction.

This story begins when a mother and her daughter take off on a trip. It is a summer of rapidly changing winds, volcanic rumbles, and sudden tempests. They’ve landed in Sicily, near the ancient ruins where the mother’s grandmother worked long ago on an archaeological dig. The narrator’s marriage has collapsed, her mother is losing her memory, and her daughter is on the threshold of adolescence, starting to ask difficult questions and form complex memories. How do you begin again? the narrator wonders, pondering her family line. How do you begin again if you got the beginning wrong?

While the mother tries to figure out how to reconstruct their lives as a duo—cooking meals side by side, reading out loud to each other, playing chess, bickering and making up—her daughter takes the reins of the story, and their journey soon becomes a quest for origins, not just to the familial past across continents, languages, and generations, but also farther back, to a mythical and even geological past.

Beginning Middle End evolves into a road novel of exquisite tenderness, spanning four generations of women. In their travels through Sicily, mother and daughter cross paths with the island’s migrants, storekeepers, and elders, and also its volcanoes, its winds, and its waters. Weaving myths, ancient philosophy, and natural history with fleeting moments of contemporary life, the unforgettable characters in this novel take us on a journey across time, and confront some of life’s primary questions: How do stories shape our children’s memories and imagination? How do we situate ourselves deeply in the world while accepting our transience in it? How are a family’s memories made and what happens when they disappear?

Warm, funny, and poetic, this novel is an ode to imagination and possibility in dark times.

“Luiselli’s prose is elegant as ever—she handles difficult themes with grace, and the two main characters prove to be unforgettable. It’s quickly becoming apparent that Luiselli is one of the country’s most gifted novelists.”
—Los Angeles Times

“Beginning Middle End is a radical release from prescribed chronology and an emotional look into intergenerational remembrance. It’s a novel that, with a tender hand, leads the reader through a journey’s frustrations and joys before finally arriving at a renewed sense of an ending.”
—BOMB Magazine, “Editor’s Choice”

Cuisine to Kill For: Recipes & True Crime Stories from the World’s Most Haunted Places by Amy Bruni

nonfiction / food / cooking / true crime / paranormal / history / travel.

From bestselling author, paranormal investigator, and Kindred Spirits co-host Amy Bruni, Cuisine to Kill For intertwines the macabre with the culinary to uncover some of history’s most gruesome true crime stories and the ghosts they left behind.

Whether set in a haunted castle, a mysterious hotel, an abandoned prison, or a popular pub, these paranormal tales span the entire globe—and their accompanying culinary treats are equally wide-ranging. Featuring nearly 60 locations, this book includes:

• Gruesome true crime tales paired with spine-tingling paranormal encounters
• 59 recipes inspired by history, local flavors, or even eerie menu items served at these haunted spots
• Authentic vintage photographs from each haunted site, bringing these violent histories to life
• Mysteriously mouthwatering food photography, styled to inspire a killer kitchen experience

Sink your teeth into tempting dishes and devilish drinks, including:

• Sunday Roast with Gravy from Ten Bells Pub in England (Jack the Ripper, anyone?)
• Meat Stew with Polenta and Egg from Romania’s foreboding Bran Castle
• The Elderflower Rose Gin Trifle from Canada’s stunning Empress Hotel
• Louis XV’s Drinking Chocolate from the Palace of Versailles
• The Reindeer Fart from Alaska’s spirited Red Onion Saloon
• Shrimp Wiggle from the Pennhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania (only if you dare)

Whether you’re drawn to the paranormal, obsessed with true crime, or simply hungry for a historic culinary escape, this cookbook is for:

• True crime aficionados who love a good (and gory) backstory
• History buffs and travel enthusiasts fascinated by the darker side of iconic locations
• Hosts and entertainers craving unique ways to captivate guests
• Foodies with guts to try centuries-old—and disturbingly “authentic”—recipes

Amy Bruni effortlessly merges her love of the mysterious with jaw-droppingly delicious recipes, offering a cookbook that’s as deathly as it is delectable. Cuisine To Kill For isn’t just a collection of recipes; it’s a passport to haunted history with every chilling page. If you’ve got an appetite for eerie tales, blood-curdling history, and global flavors, this haunted cookbook is your ultimate culinary companion.

“Come for the tales of murder, ghosts, and miscreants. Stay for the recipes… Bruni pairs blood-curdling stories with unusual cuisine.” – Barbara Jacobs, Booklist

“What goes well with a spine-tingling tale? A scrumptious meal! Amy Bruni weaves true crime with tasty recipes in this cookbook inspired by real historical mysteries.” – Nina Braca, B&N Reads

The Felicity Complex by august clarke

fiction / science fiction / comedy.

Welcome to the Felicity Complex! Constructed during the height of the Cold War, our unique hotel is prepared to protect you, the billionaire class, from nuclear annihilation! Shielded from radiation and supplemented with closed air systems and hydroponic gardens, this resort bunker offers a prime existence underground: full gymnasium and spa, gourmet meals, top-tier medical care, and the best in entertainment.

Meet Hallelujah! Grown in a lab and educated in the ways of concierge hospitality, she believes in her duty to comfort the Lord-anointed refugees of the apocalypse. (Even if her lover Anastasia disagrees. Even if her creator Dr. Younghusband is disappointed in her.) Don’t worry—everyone is safe from communists in the Felicity Complex!

Look, Hallelujah, guests have finally arrived! Hallelujah and her sister specimens have waited ages for you. Never mind the secrets other rich survivalists may be hiding. Just make sure they don’t notice the violent intentions behind our staff’s wide, wide smiles…

A sendup of traditional womanhood and lampooning the paranoias of the elite, The Felicity Complex questions the ambitions behind the entitled few who plan for the end times—and who truly survives them.

“Clarke uses lush prose to create a standout, queer, horror-tinged tale that considers gender roles, traditional values, and personal identity.” – Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] biting dystopian satire… the fast pace keeps the tension high, while Clarke’s prose cultivates dread with architectural precision. Fans of Fallout-esque retro-futurism, sapphic speculative fiction, and satirical examinations of privilege and gender will find this both deeply unsettling and darkly entertaining.” – Publishers Weekly

“This goopy, gory, heart-wrenching satire puts a match to gender essentialism and the cult of the traditional.” – Milo Michels, The Indie Next List

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

fiction / suspense / mystery.

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member—from whom they stand to inherit millions—could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.

As long as they trust each other.
As long as neither makes a mistake.
As long as there are no surprises…

“[This is] is classic Lapena—tense, twisted, dark, and packed with suburban paranoia… With revealing insights into the lives of the haves and the have-nots and thought-provoking questions about morality, greed, envy, and punishment, Lapena serves up another surefire hit.” – Emily Melton, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] knockout… vividly rendered… This most satisfying novel dissects jealousy, vengefulness, and, for many of the characters, an unstoppable lust for money… scrumptiously sinister…” – Kirkus Reviews

“Filled with tension, false flags, and a surprising ending, this one is another good summer beach read.” – Red Carpet Crash

Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel

fiction / romance.

Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.

Rock star Jackson Quick’s glory days are behind him. He had a handful of hit songs thirty years ago, but he hasn’t toured in a decade. This week, he’ll launch his reunion tour in Paris, the city where it all began. But he wants more out of life than being defined by fame. When he meets a woman who finally sees him for who he is at his core, the ground shifts beneath his feet.

Henry McGee has been writing hit songs for decades—including Jackson Quick’s biggest hit, “City of Light.” But his secret is that every love song he’s ever written is for a woman named Celeste, whom he loved a lifetime ago, when they were both teenagers in Paris during World War II. He has spent eighty years believing she died—but when a letter arrives telling him the opposite, he’s on the first flight to France. Can he break through the haze of her dementia, using the songs he’s written all these years, to remind her of who they once were to each other—and to tell her he came back for her?

Henry’s granddaughter, Melody, has just discovered that her husband of twenty years, Gilles, a French cosmetics executive, is having an affair. When she confronts him, he tearfully apologizes and begs her to forgive him. But can she? And, perhaps even more importantly, does she want to? Or is there a different kind of life out there for her if she chooses to be alone?

These intertwining stories—plus several others—unfold over a few breathtaking spring days, as an unforgettable group of Americans in Paris must find their way to their own versions of happily ever after in the City of Light.

“Paris, spring and the timelessness of love! The seven storylines are all carefully woven together yielding a truly rewarding read that will leave you breathless.” – Laura Taylor, The Indie Next List

“…honest and enjoyable… The emotional core of the story is strong: pursue love, be honest with yourself, and find the confidence to follow your heart… Fans will enjoy this love letter to Paris that is filled with Harmel’s signature emotional arcs.” – Tina Panik, Library Journal

“…Meet Me in Paris has every kind of love story wrapped into one perfect present… I have already booked my flight to Paris for next summer! I hope my week is as amazing as the book.” – Lisa Harvey, Blue Stocking Reviews

A Penance for Crows by Shannon Morgan

fiction / horror / suspense / mystery.

Off the southern tip of the Beara Peninsula lies Beanna Dubh, an island of savage beauty, its jagged cliffs lashed by Atlantic winds and infested by thousands of crows. Untouched by 21st-century advances, the islanders live under the strict rule of the church, while clinging to old superstitions of the crows as harbingers of disaster. To this desolate, unforgiving place Grizela Urquhart fled, seeking sanctuary from brutal bullying in her native Glasgow.

40 years on, Grizela still remains an outsider—the eccentric painter viewed with distrust and barely tolerated. The feelings are mutual, for she has discovered there are as many secrets on Beanna Dubh as there are crows.

When she stumbles upon the body of a young priest with a diabolical symbol drawn on his chest, the crows darken the skies, and Grizela is plagued by demonic whispers only she can hear. The islanders’ suspicions fall on her, but she fears the answers lie in her tortured past.

As mass hysteria grows, Grizela scrambles to protect the innocent—a quartet of young girls she has taken under her wing. When she uncovers dark truths behind the girls’ mysterious midnight gatherings, her grip on reality unravels and she is faced with an impossible choice: do the unthinkable to protect the girls as the whispers urge, or come out of hiding to face the sins of her past.

“[It’s] got everything I love about the genre bundled up in one satisfyingly haunting package…” – Matthew Jackson, Bloody Disgusting

“A Penance for Crows is a twisting and thrilling gothic mystery that balances folklore and reality to create a story that makes you question everything.” – Tierney Linton, Novels Alive

Ravenous by Kresley Cole

fiction / fantasy / romance.

Beyond the mortal world lies the Skein, a realm of mythic beauty and savage desire ruled by creatures of legend. Here, vampires, witches, demons, and wolves wage war―and hunt their pleasures just as fiercely.

Now, the Accession has begun, an ancient cycle of chaos and destiny that reignites old hostilities and forges fated bonds too hot to resist.

A witch queen on the rise defies the brutal wolf king who stands in her way. But when fate twists their battlefield into a bed of temptation, sworn enemies become something far more perilous. Lovers.

A vampire princess trades her crown for freedom, only to be bound to a scarred Berserker, a man whose possessive touch both terrifies and tempts her.

An incubus spy and a cunning vampiress strike a dangerous bargain for survival, and profit, but lust becomes the one gamble neither expected.

And when a wolf and an enchantress from opposing clans dare to make peace, their forbidden attraction could doom the Skein… or spark a love that defies the gods.

“Alternating between action, sex scenes, and character growth, the controlled chaos in this romantasy sets the characters up at various disaster points for the eagerly anticipated next book of the Immortals Untold series.” – Frances Moritz, Booklist

“It’s impressive that [Cole] manages to imbue all with genuine chemistry… [her] fans will find much to enjoy…” – Publishers Weekly

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst ★

fiction / fantasy / romance.

Marin has always belonged on the great blue sea.

Betrayed by love, Marin lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew.

On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway―and her friend Dax in the line of fire.

What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home.

But against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile―and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.

Sea of Charms is a cozy fantasy romance about finding your crew, your family, and moreover, finding yourself.

“[A] cute and quirky cozy romantasy… Readers will find it a warmhearted and thoroughly entertaining escape.” – Publishers Weekly

“…charming and fun to read… the novel is so breezy and the characters so likeable that it’s easy to get swept along and enjoy the ride… Pick up Sea of Charms for an escapist tour of enchanted islands.” – Melody Bowles, The British Fantasy Society

“MY HEARRRRRT!! Oh my stars, Sarah Beth Durst is a treasure, and her writing is always fresh and captivating. The Crescent Islands are a true retreat from the chaos of the world, and the world she’s made is one of my favorites of all time.” – Liz, The Southern Bookseller Review

“This is cozy fantasy that earns the label. Not because it’s soft — it isn’t, not really — but because the world in this series has always felt like it’s quietly rooting for the people in it… Iconic. Obsessive. The kind of ending that makes you sit with it.” – The Dragon Reads

A Tangled Magic by Andrea Eames

fiction / fantasy / romance.

All her life, Netta has only known the Tower—its musty shelves of books she cannot read, ink-splattered quills, and endless scrolls of paper. Her mother, ambitious and analytical, has spent decades perfecting her greatest masterpiece: a spellbook of unspeakable power. Netta’s only companions are her long red Hair, which moves of its own accord, and a telepathic raven named Baldbeak. Her only amusement lies in crafting intricate embroidery from scraps of silk and thread.

When attackers storm the Tower, her mother and the spellbook vanish. Determined to find her, Netta ventures into a kingdom on the brink of civil war. The monarch lies dying, while pious Temple fanatics and the noble elite scheme for the throne, forging secret alliances and building hidden armies. For reasons she cannot yet fathom, all these factions seek Netta—and the dangerous, uncontrollable magic in her Hair.

But whom can she trust? The sharp-eyed pickpocket bent on revolutionizing the use of magic? The elusive black market trader known only as the Book Man? The charming magician who slips between shadow and light? From masked carnivals to opulent ballrooms, from hidden monasteries to catacombs, Netta must untangle a web of lies and intrigue – not only to find her mother, but also to uncover the true nature of the power that has shaped her life.

“[An] intriguing new take [on Rapunzel]…” – Natalie Zutter, Literary Hub

“[A] riveting blend of quest and political fantasy… There’s plenty of intrigue to keep the pages flying, and satisfying resolutions to match. Netta makes an ideal lens for readers also encountering this complex world for the first time, and despite her naivety she never loses a sense of agency. Vibrant supporting characters, sturdy prose, and a hint of romance complete the package. It’s enchanting.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

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