“First we only want to be seen, but once we’re seen, that’s not enough anymore. After that, we want to be remembered.” – Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease by Gabe Bullard

nonfiction / philosophy / technology / sociology.

We live in a world addicted to convenience. Countless tools and innovations fill our daily lives, allowing us to swipe, tap, click, and subscribe without a second thought. We order food to our front door, call an Uber for a ride down the street, and scroll through the endless songs and TV shows at our fingertips. In theory, convenience should give us more energy and time to do things we want to do, and make unpleasant jobs faster and simpler. But is it working?

In this book, journalist Gabe Bullard reveals the hidden architecture behind the ubiquitous modern-day services and technologies that allegedly make our lives easier. You’ll learn:

• How the “false conveniences” we choose every day don’t actually eliminate work, effort, or money
• Why convenience culture fuels burnout and shallow living
• How pop culture is being shaped by “second screen” and “lean back” content
• The ways that friction-maxxing — from talking to your cashier, cooking from scratch, and hand writing letters — can enrich our lives with meaning and rewards

At best, many of these conveniences aren’t any more convenient than what they replaced. At worst, they leave us isolated—home alone with soggy french fries, forgettable streaming shows, a degraded planet, and a smaller bank account. But we don’t have to settle. In Against Convenience, Bullard draws a road map for how we can fight back against the juggernaut of empty ease to live a more meaningful, deeper, and gratifying life.

“[A] convincing indictment of a modern ‘convenience industry’ that deadens culture in a misguided attempt to save time and money… Bullard is refreshingly frank about the sheer scale of the cultural problem he addresses… this is sure to spark plenty of conversation.” – Publishers Weekly

“[Against Convenience] reminds us that while much of modern life is made better by technology, it still has its perils. It turns out giving up some convenience makes us more resilient and interesting.” – Fiona Stevenson, The Concord Bridge

Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo

fiction / young adult / poetry.

Lil is anything but small. She’s rebellious, she’s loyal; she’s figuring out what kind of good person she wants to be, or if she wants to be a good person at all. But more than anything? Lil wants to be free.

When her instinct for freedom leads to another stay in D.C. juvenile detention, Lil knows she’s lucky to just be on probation. But judgment, guilt, and an ankle monitor weigh heavily on her, and she can’t shake that pinned-down feeling.

The only person who might understand is her big brother, Aldwin. Except he’s more distant now than just the hundred miles where he’s away at college. Something’s been off with him for a couple of months, but only Lil seems to realize how important it is to get to him.

As her court hearing ticks closer, a question looms over Lil as the missed phone calls and strange texts from her brother pile up: will she follow the rules until her sentencing, or put her future freedom on the line?

“[A] shimmering novel in verse… [it] dances and sings… A gorgeous story that navigates trust, identity and the power of community, Anger Is Only a Shadow recognizes the reality of darkness and pain while throwing open the curtains to let in the light.” – Sara Beth West, BookPage, STARRED REVIEW

“An irresistible story of family connection, resilience, and loyalty.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Evocative language captures institutional confinement and celebrates books—such as bell hooks’s All About Love and Toni Morrison’s Beloved—as a source of connection, self-discovery, and refuge. It’s a striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

The Bookshop Woman: My Year Transforming Lives—One Book at a Time by Nanako Hanada; translated by Cat Anderson

nonfiction / memoir / books.

“I’m the manager of a very unusual bookshop. I have over ten thousand books in my vast memory bank, and I’ll recommend the perfect one for you.”

Nanako Hanada is a passionate book lover who manages the Village Vanguard, an iconically eccentric bookstore in Tokyo. But her story takes a turn with the breakdown of her marriage. Spending her nights alone in Tokyo’s four-hour capsules, she’s finding herself rather isolated. That’s until Nanako finds the meet-up site Perfect Strangers.

Perfect Strangers isn’t a dating site—it’s where people meet for thirty-minute bursts to find friendship or romance, build a network, or just share ideas. She sets up her profile promising to recommend people “the book that will change their life.” In the ensuing year, Nanako meets hundreds of people, a ragtag range of strangers who happen to believe in the power of a great book. Soon she discovers that she can connect with just about anyone, and bustling Tokyo begins to feel like a welcoming—if a bit quirky—small town.

Written with comforting humor and populated by a delightful cast of Tokyo-ites, The Bookshop Woman is a soul-stirring book about a bookseller’s self-discovery. Here she shares what every bookseller knows: Books can be joyful paths toward meaningful connections.

“[A] funny, heartwarming memoir… this is a perfect book for anyone looking to read more books from Japan.” – Diana Platt, Booklist

“…chronicles the unique magic books have to connect people… The Bookshop Woman will resonate with book lovers everywhere, thanks to its heartfelt exploration of human connection through literature.” – Mary Hillis, Asian Review of Books

“Popular in Japan when it was first published in 2018, this humorous and touching memoir has been deftly translated into English, and Nanako’s empathic listening skills and broad knowledge of books will be inspiring to librarians, bookshop staff, and other book lovers.” – Library Journal

Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo ★

fiction / fantasy / horror / mystery.

Alex Stern made it to hell and back more than once, but this time she left the door open behind her. Demons are creeping through the streets of New Haven and the Yale campus, feeding on the souls of the living, terrifying the dead. Alex and her allies can hunt them, but it’s only a matter of time before the gates to the underworld open and they face a war they cannot win. To stop it, they’ll have to reach deep into the secrets of Yale and its societies, and discover the truth hidden in Alex’s own blood.

While she struggles to hold onto the dream of a future Yale once offered, Alex must contend with the machinations of a corrupt Lethe Board and a deadly vampire with his own connection to the societies. But for the first time in her life, she won’t have to face the fight alone. Dawes, Turner, Mercy, and even Tripp will have a role to play, none more so than Alex’s mentor Darlington, the golden boy who lived so long in her head, now back in the flesh and cursed with dangerous powers of his own. Hell itself is stalking the delegates of Lethe House, and they’re all about to learn that demons don’t play by human rules.

“Dead Beat closes out Bardugo’s Alex Stern series with a bang…” – The Derrick

“Dead Beat has the same mix of academic puzzle solving, found family, and angsty coming-of-age that made the first two books so appealing, as well as an answer (finally!) to the will-they-won’t-they question of Alex and Darlington. Series readers will be pleased by this satisfying conclusion.” – Anna Mickelsen, Booklist

“The Ninth House trilogy comes to an epic conclusion in Dead Beat… [a] whirlwind installment…” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads

An Empire in the Clouds by Ai Jiang

fiction / fantasy / science fiction / historical fiction.

Long isolated from her family following her parents’ murder, Princess Xīlián of Piāo discovers the corrupt royal advisors are plotting to overthrow and kill her brother, the emperor. Desperately seeking help, she flees from the floating empire of lotuses to the drowning continent of Opera, a place of high tech and near environmental collapse where companies vie to sell a chance at immortality. There Xīlián tracks down her exiled brother Làng to assist in her efforts to disrupt the advisors’ plans and remove them from court.

Also residing on Opera is the outcast, No Face. Abandoned by the empire of Piāo, they plot to destroy those who tore their family apart. When Xīlián is caught and imprisoned and No Face discovers the shocking truth about their past, the two must work together to stop the advisors and unify their two lands or lose everyone they love to flood and revolution.

“[A] daring feat that defies genre, boldly interweaving historical fiction and sf with Chinese culture. For readers who crave a fresh, imaginative story.” – Allison Cho, Booklist

“…there’s no denying the richness and depth of [Jiang’s] vision. Readers will find much to savor here.” – Publishers Weekly

“[An] unusual blend of fantasy and science fiction, heavily inspired by Chinese culture and, in particular, Chinese opera… incredibly creative and unique… at once beautiful, otherworldly and disturbing… the blend of Chinese culture, fantasy, science fiction, technology and political intrigue is truly something special.” – Tamara O, Grimdark Magazine

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel ★

fiction / fantasy / science fiction.

Los Angeles, 2031: The first spring after the collapse of the United States, peacekeeping troops withdraw from the city, the Jacaranda trees blossom, and the curfew is finally lifted. Ari Waker and her roommate pass the gauntlet of bomb-sniffing dogs, the shanty towns, and the Red Cross tents as they walk across Silverlake to a party. The mood is ecstatic inside the apartment, people drink and dance, a woman wears a silver dress, pleated like tinfoil. And then: A shift. A bewildered twin, an uncanny doppelganger stumbles through the crowd and out into the night, and Kareem, the party’s host, vanishes into thin air.

As Ari Waker unravels the mystery of this inexplicable night, Emily St. John Mandel unfurls a story that takes us from a future America splintered by civil war to the seaside cliffs of Greece where weapons dealers hide in an elegant resort, and from the domed city of Paris to a colony on the moon. An unforgettable literary feat, Exit Party is a novel about the price of safety, the perils of the surveillance state, a requiem for a world not unlike our own, and a breathtaking story of resilience in the face of cataclysmic change.

“Both a thrilling read and a virtuoso demonstration of the moral and philosophical possibilities of speculative fiction.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“A futuristic, fluctuating tale of doubleness and disaster: Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party is a heart-shuddering dystopic for the ages… It’s a story of shifting structure and ephemeral sturdiness, meanings falter, while glimmers of truth and resolution sparkle in the distance: there’s no one who can write a surrealist and apocalyptic universe so firmly, and horrifyingly, rooted in reality.” – Julia Hass, Literary Hub

“[A] sophisticated, layered look at societal breakdown… As ever in her own wholly original and singular way, Mandel offers up a completely compelling, richly rendered yarn that’s sure to generate both major interest and discussion.” – Kristine Huntley, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“…masterful… Mandel’s assured tale offers bracing commentary on the dangers of divisiveness and surveillance, and the propulsive plot is fueled by the unfolding mystery of the initiating party scene. It’s a tour de force.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Fallow by Sarah Anderson

fiction / comedy / horror / science fiction / suspense.

Natalie knows one truth: there is no such thing as a good job.

As the clock ticks away at the call center where she logs complaints of workplace harassment, she tries to ignore the increasing pain in her jaw. She has no dental insurance. She has no skills or ambitions. She has student loans. And, minute by minute, she hears the many ways workers are not just not getting by, but actually getting hustled.

Then, at the blood bank where she sells her plasma, a mysterious flyer leads her to The Company. Natalie turns out to be the perfect candidate for their pilot program, pitched as an opportunity to help women access greater gender equity. She will be their in-house surrogate, delivering seven babies in ten years and enabling their executives to have motherhood without maternity leave. Finally, she will be adequately―generously―compensated.

For years, her every need is met: stacks of healthy meals in the refrigerator of a luxury condo, fitness coaches and nutritionists, around-the-clock health care. Between deliveries, she takes time off― a fallow period, with no obligations or expectations. For the first time in her life, she is good at her job; for the first time, she feels free.

But just as she’s about to fulfill the terms of her contract, a staffing decision upends everything. Natalie is pulled into an entirely different kind of social experiment, one that raises new questions about her future, her freedom, her purpose, what she can expect from the world, and what she can offer to it.

Woundingly funny and genuinely moving, Sarah Anderson’s Fallow is a tender, alarmingly real vision of a woman balancing on the knife-edge of capitalism as she comes to realize who she wants to be.

“Anderson’s debut novel is a hilariously astute satire on late-stage capitalism’s deprivations and desires.” – Cory Oldweiler, The Boston Globe

“…one of the funniest writers alive… anyone who sat in a gray cubicle will find themselves connecting all too well with the terribly funny moments in this book.” – Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful

“Unfolding into an utterly unexpected journey, Anderson’s debut novel is an engrossing commentary on workplace culture, autonomy, and late-stage capitalism. Readers of Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear and Aisling Rawle’s The Compound will enjoy the morally gray protagonist and the wry humor in a dystopian-tinged setting.” – Patricia Smith, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Fight Song by Kirk Van Brunt

fiction / young adult / sports.

It’s not easy to miss Nokes Lasley, especially when she’s on the ice. Towering over the competition at over six feet tall, she routinely dominates on the right wing—and her no-nonsense approach and fiery temper have helped to solidify her reputation as a hockey superstar. Despite her tenuous situation at home, she dreams of hitting the Olympics one day and proving that she can compete in the big leagues.

But suddenly, Nokes’s life is turned upside-down when her father is arrested for murder and she’s forced to enter the foster care system. Nokes bounces from home to home, from one dangerous setting to the next… until she decides to escape across the border to Minnesota, where the promise of a family friend with professional hockey connections far outweighs the abuse she’s experiencing in her home province of Ontario.

Through careful lies, and with the help of Aiden, an attractive new friend, Nokes is able to start a new life in a new country—and, most importantly, keep playing hockey. But the past has a nasty way of catching up to her, and soon Nokes has to make a terrible choice: keep running or face her past head-on… and maybe even come to terms with her Indigenous heritage.

“An appealing blend of sports action and timely social themes.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Nokes’ powerful voice is this book’s greatest strength… Excellently paced with a compelling narrator, this fiery book is a stellar story about both sports and coming of age.” – Reinhardt Suarez, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Van Brunt’s unique voice and strong characters make this powerful story deeply absorbing… An excellent book…” – Annie Johnson, School Library Journal

Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison ★

fiction / romance / fantasy.

Darcy Moore is tired of death. Which would be fine and good… if she wasn’t a Grim Reaper. Determined to outrun her designation as the villain, Darcy decides she won’t be dragging her next assignment to the underworld. She’ll be saving him instead.

Unfortunately for Darcy, there’s a complication in her plan. Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos doesn’t tolerate threats to his little corner of the world, and a Grim Reaper showing up at his bar is as deadly as it gets. But when he realizes Darcy is not as she seems, Gabriel must decide if he can trust his growing feelings or hold on to his long-standing grudge.

But magic doesn’t come without consequences. And the Department of Hauntings & Spirits will eventually come calling for their missing Reaper.

“The leads are well matched, their banter-filled chemistry titillates, and their journey toward mutual healing proves deeply satisfying. Readers will swoon.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“A lovely and moving romance that examines what it truly means to live.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Writing with a dash of dark whimsy and an abundance of sharp wit, Borison returns to her Ghosted series with another ingeniously creative paranormal romance that combines sizzling sexual chemistry, endearingly quirky characters, and an emotional roller-coaster of a plot that explores love and loss with great sensitivity to create a superbly satisfying romance.” – John Charles, Booklist

“This book was everything I wanted and more… A perfect fall read!” – Maisi McIntyre, Cover to Cover

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult ★

fiction / historical fiction / mystery.

On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn’t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters.

Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse—a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis—have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew.

Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

“[A] powerful and deeply affecting exploration of grief, loss, guilt, and enduring love.” – Kristine Huntley, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“The queen of social activist novels has done it again. Impressive, important, and fun to read.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Jodi Picoult uses her powerful voice to craft a moving story about what we do to protect our loved ones when faced with the unexpected.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads

“Picoult once again touches on deep, complicated and timely issues from multiple points of view. Tragedy, pain, forgiveness, hope and love carry the book along at an unputdownable pace. I loved this book!” – Nadine Melahn, The Indie Next List

I’ll Be Watching You by Allison Brennan

fiction / mystery / suspense.

Private investigator Margo Angelhart has recently rejoined her family’s PI business, but she never forgot the reason she walked away. Three and a half years ago, her father, Dr. Cooper Angelhart, pled guilty to killing his colleague. While she never believed he was guilty, her mother, Ava, refused to help investigate and wouldn’t explain why.

When a nurse who once worked with Cooper reaches out, Margo leaps at what could be a potential lead… only to stumble across the nurse’s grisly murder. Then, Cooper is mysteriously transferred to a penitentiary out of state in the middle of the night, and Ava finally discloses why her husband confessed to a murder he didn’t commit.

Now the entire Angelhart family must fight to clear Cooper’s name. But every step they take drags them deeper into a deadly conspiracy… and into the crosshairs of some very powerful people with fortunes on the line. They’ve killed to keep their secrets before. And this time, the target is an Angelhart.

“Confidently paced and plotted, this addition will satisfy fans of the Angelhart series.” – Joelle Egan, Booklist

“Brennan has a sure hand with plot and pacing, but she really shines in the development of the Angelhart family and the ways in which their work and relationships overlap.” – Jane Jorgenson, Library Journal

“The story, the characters, and the twists make for an intense, page-turning novel.” – Red Carpet Crash

Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristin Kobes du Mez

nonfiction / history / politics / religion / sociology.

In her “paradigm-influencing” (Christianity Today) bestseller Jesus and John Wayne, which has changed how countless Americans understand their faith, historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez showed how evangelicals made Jesus into an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism. Now she uncovers the roots of today’s glittering, Instagram-ready culture of white Christian femininity.

Live Laugh Love explores a world intimately familiar to millions of American women: Christian bookstores and radio, Hallmark movies, multilevel marketing companies, and contemporary lifestyle brands. This consumer culture may seem trivial, but Du Mez demonstrates that it has an unlikely and revealing history that stretches all the way back to the late nineteenth century and the emergence of New Thought, a movement that championed the power of the mind to shape reality. Du Mez shows how this idea drew together disparate traditions, including Mormonism, holiness evangelicalism, and holiness theology’s charismatic offshoots. Usually seen as distinct, these creeds in fact overlapped, and in the process gave rise to prosperity theologies and to the gospel of positive thinking.

But positivity had a dark side. Du Mez introduces us to religious innovators who taught that positive thinking was the secret to spiritual and material success, and reveals how these notions gave rise to a new feminine ideal. As women read prairie fiction; bought and sold Tupperware containers and Mary Kay makeup; shopped at Hobby Lobby, Target, and Altar’d State; and decorated homes with shiplap, they moved freely between the religious and the secular. Marketed as empowering, these products were part of a consumer culture that elevated domesticity and vulnerability while exposing women to systems susceptible to manipulation.

Combining sweeping cultural history with intimate storytelling, Du Mez explains how theological exclusion led women to build their own brand of Christianity, rich in cultural influence if thin in formal doctrine. Ultimately, Live Laugh Love explains how a powerful yet elusive vision of womanhood has shaped lives, families, and politics for more than a century now―and how it has brought us to our reactionary moment.

“…fascinating… Du Mez has wry wit, accessible prose, and a real feel for narrative. It’s a page-turner.” – Bonnie Kristian, Christianity Today

“A smart, endlessly interesting exercise in connecting cultural dots to learn how we got here.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“…entertaining, expansive, often surprising, and occasionally horrifying… Enlivened with an occasional touch of snark, Live Laugh Love is both thoroughly researched and provocative as it raises questions about how contemporary American Christianity got where it is and where it may be going next.” – Margaret Quamme, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Lost and Found: A Compassionate Guide to Homeownership by Mercury Stardust

nonfiction / real estate / home repair.

Buying your first home can be an intimidating process filled with questions and uncertainties—how do you know you’re working with a trustworthy lender? What are closing costs and how much should you budget for them? Can you actually afford to fix a fixer-upper?

In this successor to the #1 New York Times bestseller Safe and Sound, Mercury Stardust demystifies the path to homeownership and sets you up for homeowning success. Learn about the ups and downs of the house hunting process—from putting in an offer to going through inspections and closing—and then join Mercury as she tackles her first year with a fixer-upper that needs to be renovated and updated.

With DIY projects and guides for renovating and maintaining every part of your new house, as well as with tips for weather-proofing and maintaining outdoor spaces like a deck or garden, Lost and Found will empower you to create your dream home. Mercury reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly, including all the emotional highs and lows when things break, emergencies arise, and the unexpected inevitably happens.

“An illustrated guide for first-time homeowners written by a TikTok influencer might sound like a gimmick, but Lost and Found: A Compassionate Guide to Homeownership is one of the most useful books I’ve read this year… The book’s many illustrations are playful (I especially loved seeing Stardust joyfully operate a pressure washer) and remind readers that having fun can be part of any process, including homeownership.” – BookPage

The Museum of Lost Things: True Tales of Fabled Treasures, Legendary Cities, and Mythical Creatures That Vanished from History by Sam Kean

nonfiction / history / mystery.

Spanning a million years of history, the mysteries in these pages include fabled relics, legendary cities, mythical species, and undeciphered languages that have bedeviled seekers for centuries.

Perhaps the single most common theme across all of history is loss. The loss of lands, loss of sacred objects, loss of languages, of rights, of life—the past groans with disappearances of all kinds. This enthralling narrative collects the most spellbinding tales of these experiences and weaves them into a thoughtful meditation on what it all means across the sweep of human history and the scope of human lives, including:

• The long-lost city of Troy
• The hidden tomb of Genghis Khan
• The destruction of the fabled library of Alexandria
• The near-destruction of the Mona Lisa and other art
• The decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
• The extinction—and potential resurrection—of dodos, mammoths, and other iconic species

Provocative, surprising, and above all entertaining, this globe-trotting narrative acknowledges the sheer scale of humanity’s losses, celebrates the treasures we have managed to retain, and reveals why they continue to captivate us centuries later.

“…The Museum of Lost Things is an extensive, spellbinding tour of everything history has misplaced over the years.” – Elle Reads Library Books

Never Say Die: A Memoir by Ke Huy Quan ★

nonfiction / memoir / film.

Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood adventure began when he was twelve years old, a mere five years after his family escaped Communist Northern Vietnam and settled down to a relatively peaceful life in L.A.’s Chinatown. After attending an open call audition on a whim, he was unexpectedly swept up in the wild world of filmmaking: learning to swim from Harrison Ford on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, receiving trucks full of toys from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for his birthday, meeting Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, and making lifelong friends on the set of The Goonies.

A star of two of the most beloved movies of the ‘80s, there appeared to be no limit to Ke’s rise. But just a few years later, the roles had dried up and it seemed like Hollywood no longer had a place for him. He eventually left acting to work odd jobs behind the scenes for directors like Wong Kar Wai. His confidence was badly shaken, but his love of performing never abated. It wasn’t until decades later, when he was 49 years old, that he stepped back in front of the camera to star in a strange little indie film called Everything Everywhere All at Once, which surprised everyone with its incredible box-office and awards season success. To call Ke’s Oscar-winning performance a triumphant return would be an understatement.

In this moving, inspirational memoir, Ke paints a vivid self-portrait, telling both heart-wrenching and funny stories of his early rise, slow fall from the spotlight, the resilience that kept him going through his darkest times, and his eventual resurrection on one of the biggest stages in Hollywood. Never Say Die is the story of Ke’s extraordinary life, a love letter to the movies and people that shaped him, and a powerful testament to never giving up on your dreams.

“[A] soulful, smart, and heartfelt take on following your dreams and believing in yourself, even when things take a bit longer than you’d planned.” – Town & Country

“[A] thoughtfully written, rare glimpse at being a child refugee and what it takes to make it in Hollywood.” – Raymond Pun, Booklist

“A touching account of a life with more than its share of ups and downs.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Whether he’s recalling the monotony of life in the Hong Kong refugee camp he lived in after fleeing Vietnam or reminiscing about Harrison Ford teaching him to swim, Quan’s affable tone draws the reader in. It’s a winning self-portrait.” – Publishers Weekly

Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson

fiction / historical fiction / mystery.

When crime correspondent turned war reporter Harry Flynn returns to Britain from Singapore in 1945, he takes a quiet job with the Festival of Britain, a government-funded endeavor aimed at celebrating the nation’s creativity, grit, and ingenuity. There, he joins a team of misfits and eccentrics as they help to ready the Festival for launch.

When a Frenchwoman goes missing, Flynn becomes the central suspect in her disappearance—and possible murder. He was the last person to see her alive, yet he has no memory of the evening they spent together. As evidence against him mounts, Flynn begins to wonder if he might actually be to blame. To make matters worse, he is surrounded by people who have their own secret agenda.

There may be a carnival atmosphere in London as the country attempts to throw off the drab privations of war, yet beneath the frivolity there is also a worthy attempt to hold up a mirror to both its history and its future. With her unique voice and her skill at conjuring the past, Kate Atkinson turns her light on a nation reconstructing its image and the lengths to which some might go to manipulate the outcome. Witty, brilliantly plotted, and with an unforgettable cast of characters, Our Noble Selves paints a vivid portrait of a former empire struggling with its identity in the aftermath of war.

“It may be humanly impossible to read this book without loving it.” – Molly Odintz, CrimeReads

“Atkinson deftly blends the tragicomic spirit of Evelyn Waugh’s post-WWII novels with the cringe comedy of The Office in her latest history-mystery… Excellent characterization and telling historical details in a wonderfully invigorating read.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Another exquisitely humane novel from one of contemporary fiction’s finest writers.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

The Perilous Fight by Colin Kaepernick

nonfiction / memoir / history / politics.

On September 1, 2016, Colin Kaepernick took a knee during “The Star Spangled Banner,” but the world never fully understood the whole story. Not the “why” or the cost of his courage. That story begins in Turlock, California, where Kaepernick, a Black kid adopted into a white family, navigated constant resistance to His Blackness and sense of self. Sports became his refuge and his proving ground, where his talent could not be questioned. The extraordinary result? A quarterback whose arm and instincts would carry him to the Super Bowl and into history books. But with success came an education he hadn’t anticipated.

In the fraught world of sports politics, he saw the hidden powerhouses pulling the strings. Steeled with the readings of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Huey P. Newton, and Angela Davis, he saw in the NFL, in Turlock, in the repeated, unpunished police killings of Black and Brown Americans, an undeniable truth revealed: this was not someone else’s fight. It was his. It is ours.

When Kaepernick knelt, the NFL blackballed him. But in the ten years since, the questions his protest raised have not gone away. In The Perilous Fight, Kaepernick delivers his story with the same unflinching conviction that defined his most-watched moment, a single act of protest that changed American sports and culture forever. And ultimately, it is a story about the future we are all still fighting to build.

“[A] candid, observant, generous chronicle of his development as an elite, suddenly dispensable NFL quarterback and also of the relentless, high-profile civil rights warrior he’s become. Kaepernick’s painful truths—especially barbed about the racism he’s experienced within the NFL but also in the outside world—find their mark here.” – Alan Moores, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] inspiring story of sticking to one’s values no matter the costs.” – Publishers Weekly

“A football star’s bracing account of his battle for racial equality—and how powerful forces arrayed against him.” – Kirkus Reviews

Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body by Andrew D. Huberman, PhD

nonfiction / science / health / self-help / psychology.

The power of your physiology can be harnessed in two complementary ways: First, through a set of foundational behaviors—core practices that substantially improve your day-to-day mental and physical state. Second, through specific science-based tools you can use to overcome common challenges or achieve elevated levels of mental or physical performance. In this book, Dr. Huberman offers essential practices for both, called “protocols.”

These protocols can help you unlock your brain and body’s full potential across seven areas:
– Sleep
– Exercise
– Stress Control
– Nutrition
– Light
– Focus, Motivation, and Learning
– Personal Growth

For example, a simple sleep protocol includes viewing sunlight as soon as possible after waking. Another protocol uses a unique breathing pattern to reduce stress in the moment. There are also protocols for getting stronger and leaner at any age, and for allowing you to learn faster. And much more.

In his clear and engaging style, Huberman explains the science behind each protocol, then shows how they can deliver immediate, effective results. What’s more, he describes how to customize them, allowing you to adapt them to your individual needs.

Drawing on decades of research—from his own work and that of the many world experts he has interviewed over the years—Dr. Huberman delivers a comprehensive and indispensable guide to improving your mental health, physical health, and performance.

“With a glistening resume to speak to his knowledge of the human brain, Andrew Huberman has taken to the page to bring you all the important do’s and don’ts for facing stress and whatever else life throws at you.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads

Redwood: The Untold Story of the Cold War’s Most Extraordinary Spy by Ben Macintyre ★

nonfiction / biography / history / suspense.

In 1981, KGB Major Vladimir Kuzichkin, codenamed “Redwood,” was the best Soviet officer in Iran, running spies in the wake of the Islamic revolution and working with a hidden network of Iranian communists to undermine the new regime. But Kuzichkin had a problem, a sexual secret that, if revealed, would humiliate him with his colleagues, cost him his job, and send him into exile. Desperate for a solution, he reached out to the only place he believed could help: Britain’s MI6.

So begins one of the most astounding true spy stories of the Cold War, set against the terrifying prospect of nuclear armageddon. Taking readers through shadowy back alleys of Tehran, across bloody streets and into cloistered intelligence offices, Ben Macintyre unfolds a world in turmoil, where no one’s motive is what it seems, and exposure means death. As Kuzichkin helps the Soviet leadership plot an overthrow of the Ayatollah’s fledgling regime—and the American government secretly contemplates a nuclear response if they do—it falls on MI6’s resourceful young undercover officer Ian McCredie to spirit Kuzichkin’s vital information back to the West. But when both Iranian intelligence and the KGB close in on the Russian double-agent, McCredie must design an improbable high-stakes escape plan for Kuzichkin, in which failure is almost certain and the direction of the Cold War hangs in the balance.

This is the gripping tale of one man’s courage, and its extraordinary unintended consequences that still shape our world today. It’s about a moving friendship between spies on opposite sides of the global conflict; about marriage, loyalty, and betrayal. Drawing on never-before-seen archival material and revealing interviews with the participants, Redwood plunges readers back into the world of The Spy and the Traitor, where the fate of millions turns on the split-second decisions of spies under pressure.

“[A] riveting real-life thriller… Macintyre’s lively espionage saga, full of brush-pasts and dead drops, stands James Bond on his head: tall, muscley, blue-eyed Kuzichkin was wracked with sexual insecurities that he poured out to McCredie in boozy bathroom heart-to-hearts. The result is a morally murky tale of manipulation and unforeseen consequences.” – Publishers Weekly

“The latest from the author of The Siege has everything you could want in a Cold War thriller: a defected KGB agent with a dark secret, revolutionary turmoil egged on by the Kremlin, and the threat of nuclear Armageddon. As an added bonus, it all really happened.” – New York Times

“…extraordinary… feel[s] disconcertingly current… Like the best of Macintyre’s books, Redwood is less concerned with the machinery of espionage than with the unruly people caught inside it… The most sophisticated intelligence system can still turn upon love, vanity, terror or humiliation – and the course of history upon a whispered bargain in a Tehran bathroom.” – Guy Walters, The Independent

“[An] artfully constructed nonfiction equivalent to one of John le Carré’s most accomplished novels. Its setting, in the early days of Iran’s Islamic Republic, is replete with eerie echoes for today.” – Andrew Nagorski, Wall Street Journal

The Rouse by China Miéville ★

fiction / fantasy / horror / science fiction.

Maur’s life has been shaped by loss: an apparently ordinary tragedy. But in its aftermath arise deeper, stranger questions. Their answers may lie within the dark heart and darker history of an old soldier who shares Maur’s obsessions and who is violently pursued by the same unknown, unquiet forces.

So begins a book unlike any other: at once an encyclopaedic and multitudinous saga of a bloody century and the intimate story of two lives, their loves, regrets, and secrets—and a terrifying journey into infinite mystery.

“A smartly imagined, genre-bending story that readers may find all too real.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] incredibly ambitious combination of history and the supernatural… Miéville renders the winding, complex plot that ties these two characters together in characteristically robust prose and provides a satisfying ending… Fans will not be disappointed.” – Publishers Weekly

“…monumental… painstakingly realistic yet haunted by presences somewhere between gods and mollusks.” – Mark Bound, Boston Review

“[A] quantum jump in terms of ambition, moral seriousness and stylistic bravado… qually maximalist, dense, disorienting and discomfiting, reflecting how surreal our reality seems to have become… The Rouse is affecting, intelligent and, in more than one place, very, very frightening. ‘Life,’ as Miéville writes, ‘is just a prologue to a ghost story.’ This is a novel destined for a rich afterlife.” – Stuart Kelly, The Guardian

Signals Across Vast Distances: Essays and Tales by Elizabeth Alexander

nonfiction / memoir / essays / poetry / literature / art.

In this deeply personal book, Elizabeth Alexander gives us profound and galvanizing lessons from culture and life to move through challenging times. In close readings of visionary and beloved poets and writers―Muriel Rukeyser, Gwendolyn Brooks, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, and June Jordan, among others―Dr. Alexander meditates on how words and values can sustain and inspire us, interweaving her voice with revelatory works of art by some of our most extraordinary visual artists, richly reproduced in the book’s pages.

Her stories of connection―as a daughter, wife, widow, and mother of two sons; reflecting at midlife on her younger days as an aspiring dancer; as a poet at President Obama’s inauguration on the dais alongside her father, a civil rights pioneer; urging radical welcome in our families, communities, and country―engage and move us. Her reflections on the public project of acknowledging historical truths, a focus of her leadership at the Mellon Foundation, model courageous action.

Throughout the book, Alexander poses questions, encouraging readers to recognize the abundant resources we carry within or can access: language, history, art, community, family, our bodies, our stories, and love itself. In luminous and powerful prose, Signals Across Vast Distances calls us to imagine possibilities, take courage, and―in Alexander’s closing words―lead with love.

“A timely meditation on poetry and connectedness, modeling ways of resisting racism and authoritarianism.” – Kirkus Reviews

“From examinations of works by June Jordan and Audre Lorde to Alexander’s own experiences of family and creation, these essays center on what we can draw from art and community and how we can use those resources at the service of action and seeking truth.” – Oliver Scialdone, Literary Hub

“[A] multilayered blend of literary criticism, memoir, essays, and visual art that delves not only into the works of some of the most influential and important writers of recent history but also includes intimate personal musings on her own creative life experiences… [Alexander] deftly illustrates how the work left behind by these artists are ‘signals across vast distances, hoping to connect’ and suggests ways in which we can harness the power of these writings to empower ourselves to fight, to survive, and to find joy.” – Allison Escoto, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Soldiers & Sailors by Terrence Holt

fiction / historical fiction / horror.

Pursued by a past he cannot bring himself to remember, Hal returns to his decaying Midwestern birthplace, where he takes a job as staff physician at a decrepit veteran’s home. There, Hal finds himself the unwilling audience of his patients’ horrific stories, and descends with them into a Dantesque vision of the hell of war. Fleeing one hell for another, Hal searches the ruins of his ancestral home for clues to his own family’s descent into murder and madness. Between these two worlds, Hal finds a guide in Nell, the wryly attentive receptionist―who harbors her own secrets about both worlds.

The ancient veterans compel Hal to hear what they did and what they suffered, remembering a blood-spattered village in France, or the infernal jungles of New Guinea, the terrors of the Murmansk run or the rail yards of Dachau. Their anguished recollections illuminate this novel like star shells over a darkened battlefield. As the veterans’ war stories grow stranger and more terrible, they lead Hal to a terrifying discovery: about his patients, his family, and his collapsing world.

In Hal’s struggle to rebuild his world on the ruins of his father’s war, Terrence Holt has created a gripping saga, one ringing with the echoes of America’s bloodstained history, and the dire possibilities of our collective future. An epic celebration of the storyteller’s craft, Soldiers & Sailors offers a literary testament to the heroism of those whose sacrifice must never be forgotten.

“…lush, harrowing fiction about the horrors of war and their devastating aftermaths.” – Calvin Kasulke, Literary Hub

“…searching and phantasmagoric… Holt’s evocative prose and slow-burning plot pays dividends.” – Publishers Weekly

“Inventive and assured: horror with an anti-war undertone, worthy of shelving alongside Henry James and Stephen King.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Story Telling: A Writing Life by Isabel Allende

nonfiction / memoir / writing.

In this deeply personal and insightful book, Isabel Allende delves into her creative process, reflecting on nearly half a century of writing that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.

For Allende, writing is more than a craft. It is an addiction, a means of preserving memory, and a way to make sense of life. She offers readers an intimate glimpse into her creative world, where stories take shape through intuition, discipline, and deep connection to the human experience. It is also a glimpse into the life of a writer who views literature as a portal to understanding the chaos of life.

Story Telling is not a prescriptive guide to writing. Rather, it is a conversation. In it, Allende shares her triumphs, her mistakes, and the lessons learned through the challenges and joys of writing. She intertwines her own stories with invaluable wisdom for anyone pursuing the craft, making this book equally a memoir, a master class in the alchemy of storytelling, and a celebration of the enduring power of narrative.

“[A] charming and welcome celebration of the magic and power of literature… an invaluable master class for anyone beginning a literary journey and a pleasing and illuminating read for anyone interested in this author’s process and life story. Allende’s uplifting examples, encouraging suggestions, and passion for writing, reading, and literature make this a gem not to be missed.” – Sara Martínez, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“In this stirring memoir, Chilean American novelist Allende details how her personal life has served as a ‘sacred place of inspiration’ throughout her prolific literary career… Referencing the importance of preserving her own experiences and those of her loved ones, Allende writes that ‘memory and literature are inseparable, and they have defined me.’ In this wise, sincere reflection, she proves it.” – Publishers Weekly

“[A] singular addition to [Allende’s] oeuvre… an impassioned defense of the labor and the art of writing, of recording the world as it could be as well as the horrors with it.” – Michelle Anya Anjirbag, Shelf Awareness

Thoughts Be Bloody by Auden Patrick

fiction / fantasy / horror.

The summer before his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea walks into the university library to find Carson Hamlett, resident golden boy and master magician, cradling his father’s dead body. Life at Elsinore, one of the most prestigious universities in the secretive magical world, simply goes on when the professor’s death is ruled an accident—despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene.

A year later, Horatio is keeping his head down, attempting to graduate without his out-of-control magic harming his classmates. That changes when the ghost of Hamlett’s father appears and places a curse on Horatio and Hamlett: avenge his death by destroying Elsinore and its heart, lest the ghost robs them of their minds, memories, and their very souls.

Elsinore has given Horatio everything—knowledge of his magical ability, an escape from his abusive family, and freedom to pursue his life as a transgender man—and now he’s to be its doom. As the two uncover more of Elsinore’s secrets, Horatio finds himself becoming more and more ensnared in Hamlett’s dark but charismatic web.

The question is not if Horatio will manage to destroy Elsinore. The question is if Hamlett will destroy him first. This twisty, queer, dark academia is a brand-new take on the questions that haunt Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

“Best described as a dark academia mash-up of Victoria Lee’s A Lesson in Vengeance and the 2024 movie, Challengers.” – Raychel Bennet, Booklist

“[An] impressive magical retelling [of Hamlet] with a gripping plot and well-developed characters.” – Cloreadsbooks1364, Medium

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham ★

fiction.

September at Tiffin Academy is always a heady time, especially for the senior class―“sixth formers,” in Tiffin-speak―a season of college applications and intense pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs. As the chapel bells ring in students and staff, everyone has something to look forward to―but in the midst of the anticipation and excitement, nagging questions and dark secrets lurk beneath the surface…

Are Tiffin’s It Couple, Charley and East, on the rocks? What sparked the rift between football star Dub and his best friend Hakeem? Will Pippa Sacks, posh day student, topple the delicate social hierarchy―or wreak even worse havoc? Can Head of School Audre Robinson save her job―and the school―after a disastrous financial mistake? And what was in that email attachment Cinnamon Peters sent to Dub before she died?

Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham answer these questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page-turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and growing up, at any age.

“The campus series scratches this author’s proprietary itch as effectively as the island set did. We’ll follow her anywhere.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Hilderbrand and Cunningham once again perfectly capture the essence of a place… readers will be flipping the pages to find out what happens to the students and teachers they love (or love to hate). Readers of The Academy will be pleased that all loose ends are tied up in this utterly satisfying boarding-school novel.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] easy-to-read, entertaining story that blends boarding school drama, romance, and secrets with themes of privilege, friendship, and betrayal. The writing is classic Elin Hiderbrand; fast-paced and relationship-driven.” – Lisa Harvey, Blue Stocking Reviews

Veg Everything: Recipes for Weeknights, Parties and the Bites in Between by Tanya Sichynsky

nonfiction / food / cooking.

Have you ever feared that you would still feel hungry after a vegetarian feast? Tried to cook for meat lovers… without the meat? Craved a more vibrant vegetable-packed breakfast worth jumping out of bed for? Whether you’re a devoted vegetarian or expanding your palate, Veg Everything will change how you think about plant-forward meals.

Curated by Tanya Sichynsky, author of the popular NYT Cooking newsletter “The Veggie,” Veg Everything serves up not only culinary inspiration (with mouthwatering photos) but also tips and meal plans to make vegetarian cooking feel as easy as it is delicious. As Tanya says, “The decision to eat more vegetables does not confine you to a life of side dishes. It opens the door to a multiverse.”

Enjoy every bite of 101 standout NYT Cooking recipes, grouped by themes: hearty breakfasts and finger foods, seasonal salads and soups, meatless mains and party showstoppers. Discover irresistible meals anchored by a humble can of beans; shape-shifting tofu, from silky to crispy; meal-enhancers like broth and dressings; and vegetable-packed (and still decadent) pastas.

Think Cauliflower Shawarma with Tahini for a weeknight dinner, with leftovers for lunch; Spicy Tomato Beans and Greens to work magic with pantry staples; Creamed Greens Pot Pie on a holiday table; or a Golden Potato and Greens Soup that turns crisper-drawer veggies into the main event.

Featuring time-tested recipes and expert guidance from trusted writers Melissa Clark, Eric Kim, Yewande Komolafe, Andy Baraghani, Hetty Lui McKinnon and more, Veg Everything is an enthusiastic celebration of vegetables—for the veg-forward, the veg-skeptical and everyone in between.

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman ★

fiction / mystery / suspense.

Back together.
Back on the case.
And back to solving murders…

At sunrise, high in the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a beautiful private villa. On the body is a threatening note, signed by a mystery man.

Back at We Solve Murders HQ, Amy, Rosie, and Steve leap at the chance to take on their first proper case. So what if their new client seems to have his own reasons for avoiding the police? All they need to do is uncover who left the note, and then find them. Simple.

But once they start digging, the suspects keep piling up: there’s Sweden’s most-wanted criminal, a canny ex-wife and a fierce business rival – yet the murderer keeps evading them. And as the trio chase a villain through the shadows, danger travels closer to home…

Between Italy and Palm Springs, via Barcelona and Steve’s village pub, can the team catch an elusive killer who knows EXACTLY where to hide?

“[A] witty, warmhearted sequel that proves Osman’s newest sleuths are here to stay… [the] combination of comedy and tenderness remains Osman’s greatest strength… Funny, clever, and unexpectedly tender… Richard Osman sends his detectives around the world, but his greatest trick remains the same—making readers feel completely at home in the company of murder.” – Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy

“It’s a pleasure spending time with Osman’s quirky detectives, who are much more capable than they seem.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Richard Osman has done it again. We Chase Shadows, his seventh novel, is nothing but a straight-up page-turner.” – Emma Costigan, Evoke

“I was already a fan of Richard Osman as a very tall, super smart, and slightly geeky television personality. But I’ve become a huge fan of Richard Osman, the cozy mystery author who gently leads on paths of murder and mayhem, all seasoned with humor and warmth.” – Carla, Cozying Up

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