“Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.” – Scott Hawkins, The Library at Mount Char
Agrippa by Robert Harris
fiction / historical fiction / suspense.
He was born feet first, a dangerous way to enter the world. His mother did not survive, and the nickname, Agrippa—mother killer—stuck. But the schoolyard taunting only served to harden his resolve and hone his predilection for aggression. In time, the name lost its sting and became instead a mark of his invincibility. It came to shape his destiny.
Agrippa was a mere commoner, a plebeian, his father a humble Stoic, but he earned the respect and fear of his peers. He defended a bullied young boy, Octavius, who turned out to be the nephew of Caesar himself, a chance encounter that would change the trajectory of his life. He eventually joined the ranks of the legionnaires and marched against their enemies. His prowess on the battlefield spoke for itself, and Caesar relied on him to protect his favored nephew. When Caesar was murdered in the Senate, Octavius inherited the empire in name only. To assume the mantle he would have to fight for it, and Agrippa, forever by his side, would be his closest advisor and the merciless agent of his military will.
As gripping and full of intrigue as his bestselling novel Conclave, Agrippa is Robert Harris’s monumental return to the world of ancient Rome on the precipice of dictatorship, a novel for our times.
“A compelling mix of history and imagination.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Agrippa offers a forensically accurate account of Roman politics in the Late Republic spliced with an imaginative portrait of one of the period’s great, if flawed, heroes. The result is more than just a thrilling read; it is also a call to moral arms.” – Kathryn Hughes, New York Times
“The novel’s deceptively simple concept is immediately compelling, as Harris weaves together fact and invention to brush new color onto one of history’s pivotal moments… The prose is rich and driving, the characters layered and memorable even outside of their historical context, and the lessons of Agrippa’s story both apparent and thoroughly entertaining. This is vintage Harris, great for longtime fans and new readers alike.” – Matthew Jackson, BookPage
All Our Evenings by Ruthvika Rao
fiction.
In 1990s Hyderabad, three teenagers―Arjun, Ruhee, and Ganesh―forge an unexpected bond. Over the course of a single sun-drenched summer, they discover love, friendship, and solace from their troubled families. They also discover the Red House, an abandoned house in their neighborhood, which becomes the site of their intimate friendship. But one night at the Red House, an unexpected act of violence shatters their lives forever.
A decade later, Ruhee returns to Hyderabad, and Arjun, who has never forgotten his first love, is given a chance to tell the truth, both to himself and to those around him. But the tangled threads of fate, class, and desire remain, as does a lacerating secret.
By turns tender and unsettling, Ruthvika Rao’s All Our Evenings is a deeply affecting novel about youthful passion, redemption, and the people we can never let go.
“Donna Tartt fans looking for dark erudition should pick up Rao’s novel.” – Kirkus Reviews
“…brilliant… a nuanced and immensely readable portrait of friendship and family dynamics. With expert pacing, this knockout story explores the thinnest of seams between love and cruelty and the shocking depths one can sink to and unknowingly smother the people we supposedly hold dear.” – Poornima Apte, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] beguiling tale of a tragic teenage love triangle… Rao keeps the reader on tenterhooks with this slow-burn psychological thriller, and she layers the intense teen romance with a sardonic view of India’s misguided handling of the AIDS epidemic. This is engrossing.” – Publishers Weekly
American Scoundrel: Roy Cohn’s Dark Journey from Joe McCarthy to Donald Trump by Kai Bird ★
nonfiction / biography / history / politics.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, the many dramas of American political life had one common denominator: Roy Cohn. In his twenties, the infamous young prosecutor sent Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to the electric chair, and as the chief aide to Senator Joe McCarthy became the baby-faced symbol of ruthless communist-hunting. By his thirties, Cohn had begun working as the Mafia’s hired legal gun. In his forties, he was an informal adviser to Richard Nixon. In his fifties, he partied with the glitterati at Studio 54 and visited the Reagan White House where he traded gossip with the first lady. Perhaps most significant, Cohn mentored the young Donald Trump, who telephoned the older man daily and studiously emulated not only his mannerisms but core philosophies.
Years after his death in 1986 from AIDS-related complications, Cohn emerged as a central figure in Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play Angels in America. Cohn’s feistiness, his surly defiance—and, yes, his charm—were frequently flourished to conceal vast insecurities, particularly regarding his closeted sexuality.
A street fighter, self-promoting hustler, and a true Zelig of the dark side, Cohn was a nefarious actor in a startling number of history-shaping events whose influence resonates to the present day.
“…astonishing… The book excels as a masterful dissection of Cohn’s strange, contradictory, and immoral character… an extraordinary portrait of a singular American figure whose callousness and brazenness continue to mar the country 40 years after his death.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“The venality and corruption, blackmail and sheer brazenness of the public lying Bird portrays is eye-popping, infuriating, disgusting—yet also, at times, darkly comic… If you want to understand Donald Trump, read this book.” – Gayle Feldman, The Bookseller
“[A] capacious and probing biography… this deeply researched, admirably balanced, and propulsively paced biography is key to understanding the current political culture.” – Carol Haggas, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“In American Scoundrel, the master biographer Kai Bird points us to a universe where ideology matters less than crass opportunism in the pursuit of money, sex, and power—where extreme narcissists will shatter everything around them to get their way. This was Roy Cohn’s world; Donald Trump is his inheritor… American Scoundrel will remind anyone outraged by our current culture that ‘elite impunity’ is nothing new. Then, as now, power and celebrity attracted allies.” – Martin Di Caro, The American Conservative
Before You Were Anne by Emiko Jean
fiction / mystery / suspense.
Married, pregnant, and thriving in her career, Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life finally feels whole, until an explosive new case shatters everything. A mother is dead. Her sixteen-year-old daughter, Naomi, has disappeared. And the search will awaken questions about Chelsey’s own origins—questions she’s spent a lifetime afraid to ask.
The victim called herself Anne Walker. But she was born Rika Takahashi, and her journey from a remote Japanese farm to suburban Seattle conceals decades of deception. Across Tokyo’s shadowed underworld, an isolated Idaho town, and years of carefully constructed lies, Rika reinvented herself at every turn. But she was always running—from someone, or something.
Now, Chelsey must find Naomi before she becomes the next victim. But the deeper she delves into Rika’s hidden life, the more she discovers: some secrets are worth killing for. And the most dangerous truths may be the ones closest to home.
Told in three interwoven voices, Before You Were Anne is a gripping suspense novel about the lies that bind families and the sins that echo across generations.
“A page-turner… that feels all too timely and real.” – Martin Wolk, The Spokesman-Review
“[An] exhilarating thriller with a strong emotional current.” – Publishers Weekly
“Jean writes a darkness into this novel as she excavates the ways women are tricked and trafficked, which can lead to abuse and death. The tales of Chelsey, Rika, and Naomi illustrate the important strength to be derived from knowing who you are. In this thriller, understanding one’s origins can be a matter of life or death.” – Kirkus Reviews
The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters ★
fiction / historical fiction.
Born under the shadow of a birthing tree sacred to generations of Mi’kmaq women, Aliet Paul grows up outside a small Nova Scotia town with her fierce, loving grandmother Kiju. Her mother died bringing Aliet into the world under that very tree; her father remains a mystery no one will name. Aliet’s childhood is shaped by seasonal apple pickers, the medicinal wisdom of the old ways, and the quiet, steadfast presence of John, a boy who becomes her anchor.
But the world beyond their community is changing. Traditional midwifery is condemned, prejudice deepens, and when the wrong person witnesses a birth, the consequences are disastrous. As Aliet comes of age, she navigates love, loss, and a personal tragedy that veers her from the path her grandmother wanted for her. She becomes a nurse trained in modern medicine, yet she carries Kiju’s teachings close, tucked beside memories of the tree that once welcomed new life.
Years later, when the call comes that Kiju has died, Aliet returns home to a crumbling house, a community scattered, and a past she thought she’d outrun. As Aliet restores the house room by room, something inside her stirs awake: the threads of her lineage, the old ways of her grandmother, and the mystery of her own bloodline.
As Aliet digs to uncover who her family really is, each revelation pulls her deeper into a web of long-guarded silences, dangerous loyalties, and generational wounds that refuse to stay buried: Someone knew the truth about her mother’s final moments. Someone knew what happened in the orchard all those years ago. And someone wants the past to remain undisturbed.
Spanning decades of loss and reclamation, this sweeping yet intimate novel follows one woman’s journey to protect the land, the traditions, and the memory of the women who came before her—and to decide which parts of her inheritance she will carry into the future.
“If you love family sagas, then don’t miss this novel from the author of The Berry Pickers… A genre-bending novel that will leave readers guessing.” – Carissa Mosness, Woman’s World
“[A] grounded, glimmering, earthy yet mystical novel.. The Birthing Tree will enchant readers with its resplendent portrait of heritage, tradition, and home.” – Julia Hass, Literary Hub
“Amanda Peters perfectly weaves the connections of nature, family, & community, and remains the best kind of storyteller.” – Liz Laconis, The Indie Next List
“Like Peters’ first novel, The Berry Pickers, which won the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, this book offers a full-circle narrative that weaves together an individual, her family, Indigenous culture, the Americas, and nature. With its translucent sentences and strong structures, this richly dimensional story will deeply affect readers.” – Emily Dziuban, Booklist
Blacktail by Scott Hawkins ★
fiction / fantasy / horror.
The wolf Blacktail is faithful to his Forest God, but in these times, faith is not enough. His world is besieged by men. Soon his territory will be overrun, and then there will be nowhere left to go. When his mate, a house dog, is killed, Blacktail rebels. He invades the house of her owners, seeking vengeance.
Blacktail’s fury catches the notice of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who makes an offer. What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether? To do so, Blacktail must find and wake the Forest God. Only He might stand against the plague of men. Blacktail knows that his north woods are dwindling to nothing. He sees no other choice.
As Blacktail journeys farther from his wild home and deeper into the world of man, he encounters strangers—animal, mortal, and otherworldly—who, for their own reasons, want to help Blacktail rid the world of humans. Along the way, it becomes clear that he is more than just a wolf. The Forest God is sleeping, yes. But what will be the price of waking him?
“…it’s going to change how you think about animals, I guarantee it.” – Drew Broussard, Literary Hub
“Eerie and unexpected, a strangely satisfying new take on the hero’s journey.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Blacktail will make you question whether humans can ever truly love our furry friends—or whether we are necessarily the oppressor, our love morally compromised by the stink of possession.” – Aardvark Book Club
“The Library at Mount Char, Hawkins’ first book, has an incredibly passionate cult following (including yours truly and several other Reactor homies)—and for good reason… Blacktail is the writer’s first book since that 2016 release, and I personally am a big fan of the ‘one perfect book every ten years’ publishing method… Blacktail is at once an ode to our beautiful and wild earth, and the dark primordial forces that move upon it. Hawkins’ sophomore effort feels more like a doctoral dissertation, and was well worth the wait.” – Christina Orlando, Reactor
Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson
fiction / young adult / science fiction / fantasy.
After decades of war against alien oppressors, the humans of the Defiant Defense Force are finally free. Yet for Arturo Mendez, leader of Skyward Flight, freedom isn’t what he thought it would be.
His first postwar assignment seems simple: The DDF has found evidence of other settlements of humans who were isolated during their long war against the aliens, and Arturo and his flight of pilots are to escort a team of diplomats as they attempt to make contact. It’s an easy mission—get in, guard the diplomats, and get out.
But no element of this mission turns out to be simple. Blightfall is inhospitable, surrounded by mysterious debris and covered in giant, invasive forests that have swallowed most of the planet. Upon arrival, Arturo’s team is attacked, and it quickly becomes clear that this human settlement isn’t what it appears to be.
Now trapped in an unfamiliar world and unsure who to trust, Arturo and his team must find allies and uncover long-buried secrets if they hope to escape and return home.
“Themes of oppression, prejudice, and war are well balanced with those of romance, exploration, and triumph, and give this book something for everyone… A wonderful sci-fi novel that will teleport off shelves faster than the speed of light.” – Adam Fisher, School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“Thrilling action, chaste romance, and gentle humor maintain the zippy pace and lighthearted tone, while introspective depictions of intersectionally diverse characters add substance. It’s a blast.” – Publishers Weekly
“Blightfall is an exciting, action-packed return to Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward universe that’s full of curiosity and humor… Those new to the world of Skyward will be pulled in by the weight of the revealed secrets while longtime fans will be shocked and surprised… a worthy follow up to the original series for fans and an entertaining entry point for newcomers. Both will eagerly await the sequel.” – Julian Jones, Common Sense Media
The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men by Jon Ronson ★
nonfiction / sociology / current events.
His only child is lured to a mysterious castle in the forests of New England late one night, sending Jon Ronson on an extraordinary adventure into a dark world of unmoored men desperately searching for purpose and control—whatever the cost.
With zero warning, the crisis of masculinity and its bizarre, wrecking-ball manifestations had crashed into Jon’s life. As his investigation deepens, urgent questions come to light: What exactly is “Princessing”? Why did a lawn care influencer dress as a baby in front of billions of online viewers? How did a paid-up member of the Skeptic Society derail his life in the name of a warped vision of chivalry? And, more pressingly, why are two recently released murderers on their way to pay Jon a visit?
In our rapidly changing society, many men have become detached from reality; some are behaving like separatists, while others have fallen deep down ideological rabbit holes. Is this a complete fracturing of society, a new era of disinhibition where anything goes?
Drawing on his trademark brand of humor, psychological insight, and unrivaled prescience, The Castle marks Jon Ronson’s long-awaited return to the written page in his darkest and most insightful book yet—one where he throws open the doors to the Castle and reveals a new lost generation of men.
“The Castle is by turns funny and frightening, dark and disarming. It’s a cautionary tale of our times that deserves to be on the shelf of any reader who seeks to make sense of the perplexing, and sometimes toxic, manosphere.” – BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“Ronson’s intuitive but still rigorous approach makes this a blockbuster portrait of men gone mad.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“The Castle is compellingly nuanced in its social analysis as Ronson arrives at outcomes that are both concerning and empathetic.” – Jeff Connelly, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Ronson has a fantastic dry wit and tiptoe-through-the-tulips style that reminded me of Roald Dahl…” – Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times
Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily Wilson
nonfiction / essays / history / literature / mythology.
In this sharp and often entertaining tour through antiquity, Emily Wilson―whose renditions of Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad have captured a generation’s imagination―explores the complicated terrain of reading and writing about the ancient past.
Drawing on twenty years of scholarship and teaching, Wilson explores the difficult choices that translators must make, the pleasures of finding new solutions to old problems, and the inevitable frustrations of never fully capturing what is in the original work. Across chapters that range from the politics of Helen of Troy to the obscenities of Aristophanes, from Roman imitation of Greek models to contemporary debates over “foreignizing” and “domesticizing” styles, Wilson examines how modern norms of gender, sexuality, violence, humor, and power complicate our readings of ancient works, and how translation always risks denaturing what is unique and strange about the ancient world.
Brilliant, erudite, and yet accessible to readers with no classical background, Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea is at once an introduction to the wonders of Greek and Roman literature, a manifesto for the value of translation in a rapidly changing world, and an invitation to encounter ancient cultures anew.
“Enchanting… A lively exploration of ancient literature.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“…dazzling… Through buoyant, accessible analyses and dynamic examples, Wilson artfully connects the ancient world to the present day. This is essential reading.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] wonderfully spirited new essay collection… An expert in the ancient world, she nevertheless draws constantly (and productively) from contemporary culture… You don’t even have to be particularly interested in ancient literature to enjoy this book, though by the time you finish it you probably will be. Wilson’s excitement for her subject is irrepressibly moving.” – Jennifer Szalai, New York Times
The Disappearers by Marlon James ★
fiction / historical fiction.
In 1988, eight men in Kingston, Jamaica, begin rehearsals for a play. Though strangers to one another, they share an inescapable truth: All of them are gay. And they live in a world that refuses to accept them.
One night the men are savagely beaten and one of them is killed. As their bodies heal, the survivors begin to face the hatred and contempt that the violence laid bare. Some try to ignore what happened. Others double down on retribution. Some disappear completely.
In this spellbinding novel, Marlon James has written a propulsive crime story that is also a deeply human account of connection and acceptance. Full of fascinating characters, biting humor, and unapologetic sex, The Disappearers is both a thrilling page-turner and a finely etched portrait of queer life.
“…breathtaking… ambitious and astonishing… The author has outdone himself.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“The Disappearers is a harrowing book, to be sure, but never nihilist, or defeatist, or cynical. Its joy in ultimate survival comes through.” – Stephanie Burt, The Atlantic
“Few books have mapped the beleaguered realities of queer existence with such psychological depth, harrowing realism and searing condemnation… James makes room for the contradictions of queer life, its intimacies, estrangements and hungers, in utterly indelible ways. His prose is a consistent triumph: bitter and hilarious, lyrical, bawdy, pugnacious and scorchingly, ravishingly queer.” – Yagnishsing Dawoor, The Guardian
“[A] harrowing, hilarious, magnificent novel that will stand the test of time… This novel will be read decades from now, pored over in seminars and bookmarked on subway commutes… As the disappearers emerge in human form, James mourns those lost to plague and violence while offering sprigs of hope. His defiant queer epic belongs to us all.” – Hamilton Cain, Boston Globe
Engines of Reason by Adrian Tchaikovsky
fiction / science fiction / fantasy.
On a planet where stories govern identity, where science and magic are merely a point of view, a fallen princess, a reluctant wizard, and a precocious child must unravel the past to shape the future.
Betrayal, ancient myths, and a clash of worlds converge in this spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and self-discovery from one of science fiction’s most compelling voices.
“With Engines of Reason, in particular, we might see the best example of [Tchaikovsky’s] genius this year.” – Will Swardstrom, FanFiAddict
“What makes the story work isn’t the quest, exactly, this time around. It’s the characters and the relationships and the shared history – which is repeating – and the insider/outsider perspectives on all of it.” – Reading Reality
“[Tchaikovsky’s] sheer range of imagination and ability to craft entire worlds from intriguing themes should be taken apart and studied… He explores reactive governance and monarchical over-reach in a balanced way without devolving into dark fantasy tyranny, and puts more focus on the commoners, caught between the powers of might, magic, and technology.” – Saif Shaikh, Ph.D, Distorted Visions
The Gods Will Sing Our Song by Autumn Krause
fiction / young adult / historical fiction / fantasy / romance.
1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two star-crossed souls are set on a path that will change them forever.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada is defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani only worries about keeping her straight-A grades. They have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their family relics—until the US government forces them out of their homes simply because they’re Japanese American. In a barbed-wire world where everything seems upside down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.
But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren can free him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor enough to save them?
“Via the protagonists’ alternating perspectives, poetic prose expertly weaves together painful revelations, simmering rage, and shattering grief with soaring moments of romance and courage. The result is a captivating exploration of the devastating injustice of internment.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A beautiful, magic-infused love story that doesn’t shy away from harsh realities.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Krause draws from her family’s experience of being imprisoned at Gila River Camp in Arizona to highlight this deep injustice to Japanese Americans, effectively incorporating Japanese folklore into a very real moment in time.” – Stacey Shapiro, Booklist
Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison ★
fiction / horror / romance / suspense / mystery / comedy.
It’s the picture-perfect wedding weekend: The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends’ finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.
Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.
“Beyond masterful and thoroughly entertaining, Harrison’s take on the slasher is truly quality.” – George Dunn, FanFiAddict
“Kiss Slay Replay makes the time-loop wedding weekend feel fresh by grounding every bloody turn in friendship, regret, and the lives we keep pretending we still want. I tore through it and immediately wanted to start over.” – Stephanie Rose, The Indie Next List
“This brutal, heart-pounding spin on Groundhog Day from Harrison forces one woman to face what’s really important in life… The nightmare-inducing gore, cleverly unpredictable plotting, and, above all, Willa’s emotional arc as she comes into her own, make for exhilarating reading. Horror fans will have a blast with this fun, bloody romp.” – Publishers Weekly
“Though it’s a clear choice for fans of time loop stories, don’t pigeonhole this brilliant novel that actively investigates the horror genre itself, much like I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones and Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle.” – Becky Spratford, Booklist
The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig ★
fiction / fantasy / romance.
Aisling Cathedral is in ruins. Rodrick Myndacious, Bartholomew, and Maude Bauer are rumored to be dead―and the king has taken Sybil Delling as his bride. To show off their union and solidify his power over Traum, Benji proposes a series of tournaments throughout the hamlets. Captive and drugged, Sybil remains determined to vanquish him as she once did the Omens, even if she destroys the kingdom’s faith―and herself―in the process.
But then a mysterious knave rises to the top of the tournament lists, a man with no name and no memory who may just be Sybil’s ticket to undoing Benji’s power. For in a land where stories repeat themselves, where a king can prove as cruel as a god, the only way to truly destroy the Stonewater Kingdom’s faith is to save it.
“Rachel Gillig returns with the haunting follow-up to The Knight and the Moth. Visions, prophecies, slow-burn love and peril at every turn.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
“[The Knave and the Moon] delivers the gothic atmosphere, complicated relationships, and wonderfully strange magic that made its predecessor so memorable… The pacing is absolutely addictive, the emotional beats land, and Gillig understands exactly what made these characters special.” – Hannah Diffey, ScreenRant
Let Us Do Good: My Brother Stephen, 9/11, and the Mission to Honor America’s Heroes by Frank Siller
nonfiction / memoir / biography / history.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller had just finished his shift and was heading home when he heard the call. Turning his truck around, he drove toward lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center. With the roads closed, Stephen ran through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel carrying sixty pounds of gear on his back, determined to save as many people as he could from the Twin Towers. He never made it home.
How does a family cope with such a profound loss—and turn it into a global movement of hope and action?
In this moving and inspiring book, Stephen’s brother, Frank Siller, tells the powerful story of his family’s promise to “do good” in Stephen’s name, establishing a nonprofit organization—the Tunnel to Towers Foundation of which he is CEO—that transformed tragedy into triumph by helping those in need. Let Us Do Good recounts how the idea for Tunnel to Towers was born, how it found ally after ally among everyday citizens, celebrities with ties to first responders, and companies eager to join the Foundation on their mission, and the good works the Foundation has accomplished. From providing mortgage-free homes to the families of fallen first responders and military members to building state-of-the-art smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans to providing housing and comprehensive services for homeless veterans, this inspiring memoir details the incredible impact of this outstanding foundation that honors Stephen’s life and his commitment to helping others.
A story of joy and purpose in the face of incredible loss, Let Us Do Good is a testament to the power of faith, family, and community that demonstrates how the choice to honor sacrifice can create a legacy of light in the darkest of times. Most importantly, Frank Siller shows how much every dollar donated has meant to other heroes, celebrating all who have contributed to making good out of tragedy.
“[A] powerful book… compelling… If you have ties to the military, first responders, or are just a patriot, than Let Us do Good will impart a much needed boost of optimism. While it’s somber and reflective, it provides a personal account from a man on a singular mission to honor his brother’s legacy, by serving God, family, and America’s fallen heroes.” – Jeff Walker, Charleston.com
A Life in Lyrics: The Official Creative Legacy of Freddy Mercury by Freddie Mercury with Mary Austin
nonfiction / biography / music.
Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world.
But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse bands the world has ever seen. When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left to his former fiancé and dearest friend, Mary Austin, not only his house and possessions, but also a creative archive spanning almost two decades. From his earliest works before Queen was formed, right through to the end of his solo career, his notebooks and doodlings contain previously unpublished material including alternate lyrics and abandoned verses for “Bohemian Rhapsody” and multiple drafts of “Don’t Stop Me Now,” as well as entire songs that were never recorded.
Accompanied by stories, memories, and anecdotes from his lifelong companion, and illustrated with photographs from Freddie’s personal collection, many of which have never been published before, A Life in Lyrics is the definitive creative record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
“The rock star’s creativity shines through every page of photos and lyrics, following his creative transformation.” – Angela Andaloro, People
Notes to New Mothers edited by Rebecca Knight & Julie Buntin
nonfiction / essays / parenting.
In the early days with their first babies, two friends began comparing notes on what, exactly, was going on in their postpartum bodies and minds. What was a wake window? How could anyone function under the weight of so much love? All their new-mom friends were overwhelmed too.
In search of the book they needed, editors Rebecca Knight and Julie Buntin invited sixty-five acclaimed writers and artists―Julia Phillips, Kirstin Valdez Quade, Liana Finck, Jenny Slate, Naima Coster, and more―to riff on shared concerns: burp volcanos, career shifts, breastfeeding logs, partnership dynamics, minor victories and major insecurities.
Here is a bedside table companion for every mother who has wondered how she’ll make it through the wilderness of early parenthood, and a window into her experience for the family and friends desperate to better care for their beloved moms-to-be. Brave, unexpected, and revelatory, Notes to New Mothers offers a new map of motherhood as both a singular and communal experience.
“A welcome addition to the literature of motherhood.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Honest and nuanced, it’s a reassuring companion for anyone navigating postpartum.” – Publishers Weekly
“What a perfect opportunity to revel in the ‘singular and communal experience’ of loving a new human.” – Emily Firetog, Literary Hub
Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig
fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance / historical fiction.
She was never just the voice he shaped…
A rising soprano with a gift she is only just learning to embrace, Christine Daaé has moved through the glittering world of the Opera Populaire longing to find her purpose. Instead, she finds herself caught between two men who refuse to let her slip quietly into the chorus.
One is Raoul, her childhood friend turned devoted admirer, offering her a future filled with warmth, safety, and a love that feels like sunlight. The other is a mysterious masked figure who lurks beneath the Opera House: The Phantom. His brilliance, obsession, and dangerous devotion to nurturing Christine’s talents ignites a dark and complicated passion in her heart.
As Christine’s star ascends, so does the tension between Raoul and the Phantom. She must decide who she is when the curtain falls—and what she’s willing to risk for the life she wants.
Set against the sweeping, romantic world of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, Our Strange Duet allows Christine Daaé to take center stage to tell her own story: fierce, emotional, and unforgettable.
“‘Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind’ with this captivating riff on a beloved classic.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Get ready to see a new side of Christine’s story… the curtain is rising for another grand performance…” – Tamara Fuentes, Cosmopolitan
“Our Strange Duet is something for Phantom of the Opera fans for sure, but it’s also a Gothic romance that is perfect for fans of Craig’s previous books, like House of Salt and Sparrows and Small Favors… this is the perfect start to fall and to get ready for spooky season.” – Alexandria Ingham, Parade
Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? by Jared Diamond ★
nonfiction / history / politics.
In his acclaimed and influential books Guns, Germs, and Steel and Collapse, Jared Diamond transformed our understanding of what makes civilizations rise and fall. Now, in Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings, he studies leaders throughout time to answer the question: do the actions of individuals truly influence history? Or is humanity subject to larger historical, technological, cultural, geographical forces, far beyond the influence of individuals, no matter how powerful they may seem?
On 13 March 1930, a truck sped into an intersection, headed straight for another car’s right front door. The passenger of this chauffeur-driven car happened to be Adolf Hitler. If the truck had hit the door, Hitler would have been crushed and killed. But the chauffeur managed to accelerate, and Hitler survived. Would tens of millions of people have died in the Holocaust and World War II if the chauffeur had been slower to react? Some believe Hitler was unique in his evil abilities, while others think the war was guaranteed by the harsh conditions imposed on Germany post-war.
Do leaders like Hitler, Margaret Thatcher, Genghis Khan, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Belichick, or Christ really change our world? If yes, what qualities and circumstances are required of a leader to make their mark?
Drawing on his deep study of the life and career of a diverse cast of leaders famous and obscure– from Botswana president Seretse Khama, to environmentalist Rachel Carson, to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden–Diamond reveals how leadership effectiveness is determined by a range of complex interrelated factors. Understanding these successes and failures and the opportunities leaders did (or did not) seize illuminates the influence of today’s leaders and helps us to reflect on the value of our votes, our faith, our passions, and the people who happen to steer our ship.
With the same remarkable scope of Diamond’s classic bestsellers, Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings takes readers on a rich journey through the lives of humanity’s most well-known characters to reveal how time, place, and person can come together to change the course of history.
“[A] timely book on the role of prominent individuals.” – The Guardian
“…Diamond unearths some surprising insights into the limits of power, influence, and even brilliance.” – Jeff Somers, BookBub
“[A] jaunty, entertaining look at the roles that individual leaders play… It’s not in its conclusions but on a more granular level that the book fascinates… His nimble, irreverent approach and insatiable curiosity lead to enlightening connections that stodgier academics wouldn’t notice. Intriguing insights into just how much a leader matters (or doesn’t).” – Kirkus Reviews
The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins
fiction / historical fiction.
Graziella, a ninety-six-year-old former nun, spends her days running the parish’s food kitchen, convinced it is her responsibility to keep everyone fed in their working-class New York neighborhood. Her daughter, Grace, a respected psychology professor, appears accomplished and composed, yet finds herself unmoored as her personal life falters. Ella—Graziella’s granddaughter and Grace’s daughter—is weary of defending her vegan diet and anti-capitalistic lifestyle; blind to her own brilliance, she longs, above all, for a place to belong. Living together again, the three Graces reckon with the distances that have shaped them, and with what it means, at last, to be fully known.
“Truly captivating” (Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author) and populated by unforgettable characters, The Three Graces of Pearl Street explores the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, and the quiet courage it takes to move through the world with true grace.
“Charming… This book captures how a shared lineage creates three very different generations of bold, big-hearted women…” – Book of the Month
“[An] engrossing intergenerational saga… As the story unfolds, Rollins offers keen insights into the limits of familial obligations. This has charm to spare.” – Publishers Weekly
“Inspired by the Roman story of the Three Graces, this comforting family tale is full of heart and humor. Each character is distinctly drawn, and each point of view highlights the relationships between the women.” – Cari Dubiel, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Under Story by Chloe Benjamin ★
fiction / science fiction / romance.
“We wake up to tomorrow, never yesterday.”
At the edge of the world, biologist Laurel Salter is hiding from everything she’s ever known. For ten hours a day, six days per week, she works as a dishwasher at McMurdo Station, an isolated research base in Antarctica. She tells no one that before she arrived, she was a renowned young scientist with a promising career and a family.
But even in this remote outpost, Laurel can’t escape her past. When a strange light appears across the ice—and draws a group of physicists to McMurdo—her former husband, Eli, won’t be far behind. Laurel is captivated by the Arc: its surreal glow; the way it seems almost alive. And though Eli is reluctant to test her wildest theory, Laurel is convinced that the Arc leads down a rabbit hole and into a world they can barely imagine. Can she persuade him to risk everything to fix the burden that hangs between them—to turn back the clock and live their story a second time?
A breathless page-turner and a love letter to our planet, Under Story grapples with the great questions of our time: human hubris, the precarity of the natural world, and the mysterious webs of consciousness that bind us. A modern epic of science and soul, of bravery and redemption, it offers a vision of the future that demands we reckon with what we owe to one another, and to the earth itself.
“Not only is this a thrilling sci-fi love story, but it’ll leave you thinking about all of life’s ‘what-ifs'” – Madison McGee, Country Living
“Part science epic and part sweeping love story, Chloe Benjamin’s latest novel is an ode to the natural world and humanity’s place within it… Under Story grapples with the unknown, ultimately delivering a powerful message on the precarious and precious nature of the universe and human life itself.” – Chelsey Sanchez, Harper’s Bazaar
“…exquisitely imagined and emotionally rich… What’s most remarkable about Under Story is how Benjamin balances speculative physics with a deeply relatable story of love and grief. For a book involving multiple dimensions and timelines, Under Story is incredibly grounded… Benjamin draws the depth of what Laurel and Eli are going through with aching precision, in prose that often reads like poetry, making this expansive literary sci-fi tale powerfully resonant.” – Carole V. Bell, BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“Veined with fascinating portraits of real-life scientists, this is a magnetizing love story of many dimensions… this capacious, suspenseful, and deeply moving novel of scientific and emotional quests offers provocative perspectives on obsession, parenting, time, forgiveness, and love.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist
Us Defiant Few by Alexis Patton
fiction / fantasy / romance.
All Khalani Kanes has ever known is survival. She escaped the world’s deadliest prison and is one of the few people alive to have ever walked beneath the sun. But now, death has her in his grasp, and her luck has finally run out.
The man she loves no longer remembers her, and he’s intent on one thing. Killing her.
To live another day, Khalani will need more than sharpened knives and sheer willpower. She must get close to her brutal enemy and find a way to save him before he destroys them both. But as dark forces close in and impossible truths come to light, Khalani begins to question whether she can even trust her own mind.
Their path will lead them back to where everything began. Apollo. To face what’s coming, she must create brutal alliances, undergo ruthless training, and hold onto a love forged through both blood and pain. But even if she reaches the underground city with her throat unscathed, Khalani will be left with one agonizing question.
After learning the truth… will she still want to survive?
“A hopeful conclusion to a dystopian trilogy that’s as sexy as ever.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This final installment in the gripping dystopian trilogy will leave you breathless.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
Waiting on a Miracle by Anika Fajardo
fiction / young adult / fantasy.
Mirabel’s worst fear is confirmed—she is responsible for the faltering powers of the Familia Madrigal. Guilt-ridden and feuding with her sisters, Mirabel decides to save the magic herself. Sure, she may be the only gift-less member of her family, but she knows she can put their crumbling pieces back together again.
Unfortunately, Mirabel’s youngest cousin, Antonio, beats her to it. He overhears Tío Bruno’s vision and does the unthinkable—leaves the Encanto to find a solution. Terrified of what could happen outside the safety of their home, Mirabel has no other choice but recruit Strong Luisa and Perfect Isabela to help find their baby cousin.
But what starts as a rescue mission turns into a magical quest with a band of brothers whose family has a deep secret connection to theirs.
And soon, Mirabel learns that missing cousins and disappearing gifts may be just the beginning of their problems…
“[A] magical adventure, just like the other books in the series.” – The Contented Reader
Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell
nonfiction / essays / books.
Katherine Rundell – Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and prize-winning author of five novels for children – explores how children’s books ignite, and can re-ignite, the imagination; how children’s fiction, with its unabashed emotion and playfulness, can awaken old hungers and create new perspectives on the world. This delightful and persuasive essay is for adult readers.
“A passionate, persuasive, and perceptive case for embracing children’s fiction—at any age.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Her engaging commentary unfolds effortlessly; it’s likely that many will devour the entire contents in one read-through… Rundell’s thoughtful musings serve as apt prompts for conversations centering around writing, publishing, curating, and reading children’s books.” – Kathleen McBroom, Booklist
“In an age whose political ructions are the result of widespread frustration at the powerlessness of the many in the face of the few, this recognition of how emboldening and subversive children’s books can be feels important… an entertaining enough window into the mind of a great writer…” – Alex Preston, The Guardian
Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist by Justine Pucella Winans
fiction / young adult / horror / romance / fantasy.
Just because Schuyler is a bloodthirsty evil spirit doesn’t mean she can’t fall in love. Ever since Wren Castillo moved into the house Schuyler haunts, Schuyler has been crushing hard. But Wren has a boyfriend, Enzo, and he’s the worst. Schuyler has no choice but to watch as Enzo treats Wren terribly-until she accidentally possesses him.
With Enzo’s spirit nowhere to be found, Schuyler must pretend to be him until she can set things right. But Schuyler feels more at home in Enzo’s body than she ever did in her own, and as she grows closer to his family and friends-including Wren-she starts to wonder if this could all be for keeps.
Maintaining a possession is harder than Schuyler expected, though, and it might just take some spilled blood to keep her new body going strong. Worse, it turns out she’s not the only one interested in stealing Enzo’s body. When another evil spirit threatens everyone Schuyler now holds dear, she must decide just how far she’s willing to go to secure her second chance at love-and life.
“This paranormal romp balances gore and tender empathy, cultivating a compassionate narrative throughout which Schuyler explores her shifting gender identity, contends with grief and trauma from her previous life, and seeks to improve Enzo’s fractured personal circumstances. The result is gripping and evocative.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Winans exhibits their signature wit and creatively campy approach to horror with a Heathers-level of bloodlust and a killer sense of karma. A great read for YA horror fans in need of fun body horror and emotional growth in one package.” – Kelly Ferreira, Booklist
“Body horror and humor are deftly intermingled in this fast-paced story that thoughtfully confronts trauma and guilt… Meaningful topics are embedded in a gory, entertaining tale.” – Kirkus Reviews
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