“The world is full of ghosts, and some of them are still people.” – Peter Straub, The Throat
Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson ★
fiction / romance.
Parker Navarro’s debut novel was meant to define his career – until critic Selina Chan’s blistering review made it the flop of the decade. Four years later, his new book is his shot at redemption; for Selina, reviewing him again is a professional risk she can’t refuse. When her second takedown ignites a viral feud, both their fortunes shift overnight. But as the literary world feeds on their public sparring, a quieter dialogue begins – one that challenges everything they thought they knew about success, sincerity, and each other.
Both incisive and tender, Bad Words lays bare the costs of creation – the pull between ambition and integrity, the vulnerability of being seen, and the unexpected closeness that can grow in the space between critique and care.
“Meet your favorite new romance writer… As much as it is a romance, the novel also asks poignant questions about art and ambition, probing the motivations behind why artists create.” – Chelsey Sanchez, Harper’s Bazaar
“A book about books, publishing, writing, the internet, and the very best, truly enemies to lovers, unexpected romance. What a timely read — from the constant pressure online to the ways AI is changing publishing. An incredible look at the power of words.” – Leighellen Landskov, The Indie Next List, #1 PICK: OCTOBER 2026
“Turns out a tense author/critic dynamic makes for an especially addictive romance… As much a heartfelt romance as a literary character study, this novel’s intellectual curiosity and emotional core satisfied our hearts and our brains in equal measure.” – Book of the Month
“[A] rom-com with plenty of heft, in the way it nails the effects of social media on how we talk, read, and even think; in its prescient landscape of bookstores’ and City [magazine]’s fight to survive; in how Selina and Parker each struggle to fit into their very different families; and in its heady, romantic toppling of its protagonists’ expectations.” – Annie Bostrom, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Blockers by Michael Lewis ★
nonfiction / politics / history.
Blockers. It wasn’t a compliment. In the new Washington, it was the worst thing you could be―especially if you worked in the federal government and wanted to keep your job. A Blocker was a holdover, an impediment, someone who didn’t get the message―and, most of all, someone who didn’t belong.
Michael Lewis found six of them.
Blockers is the story of people who believed they had a calling, who were convinced they were doing something the country couldn’t do without, and then discovered they were no longer wanted. One kept Americans’ most sensitive tax data out of the wrong hands and another made sure that politicians and civil servants played by the rules. One figured out how to stop wildfires from destroying suburban neighborhoods, another helped uncover the mysteries of cystic fibrosis.
There was also a security guard.
It should come as no surprise that the writer who made subprime mortgages gripping (The Big Short) and who turned baseball statistics into poetry (Moneyball) could transform the first two years of the second Trump administration into a thriller about federal employees. But he does.
And he does something else. He puts before us a clear question: If these public servants can’t survive in government today, then what does that say about us?
“…engrossing and enraging… Blockers is a warning that our politicization of everything is a tremendous curse and a reminder that, especially in a country of the size and complexity and power of the United States, there is much that government does, or should do, that ought to be quietly nonpartisan.” – Tim Wu, New York Times
“No one explains the mind-numbing minutiae of the federal government better than Lewis… ‘Heroic’ may be an overused term, yet Lewis explicitly demonstrates why it is the most apt description of the selfless dedication of a federal workforce under attack by its own leadership.” – Carol Haggas, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“[Blockers] is a roller coaster. It alternates between the heartening stories of stellar federal civil servants, competent people who sacrifice high-paying jobs in the private sector to make their corner of the government work, and accounts of the early destruction wrought by the Department of Government Efficiency and its phalanx of sullen, Elon-worshipping idiot boys… [Lewis] an unfailing eye for the image that nails the emotional undercurrent of a scene…” – Laura Miller, Slate
The Blood Queen by Sara Raasch & Beth Revis
fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance / historical fiction.
Alyth and Samson finally know the identity of the High Blade, leader of the bloodthirsty Red Cap army, and it’s someone they never suspected. They’ll use every bit of courage, smarts, and luck they have to escape her grasp and flee to the fae court, where they hope to find aid in the fight against the Red Caps.
But the fae princes have been apathetic since the Faerie Queen disappeared years ago at the hands of the High Blade. They seem unwilling to help. And if they find out Samson’s true identity, he’ll be killed and Alyth banished.
Alyth and Samson can only depend on each other and their love as they navigate fae politics, try to win allies, search for the missing queen, and face down the greatest threat the two worlds have ever known.
“…stunning…” – Elise Dumpleton, The Nerd Daily
“An emotional and rewarding conclusion.” – Kirkus Reviews
Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey
fiction / romance / fantasy / science fiction.
Magnolia Brown loves Friday night football games, volunteering and dominating at high school swim meets. Just your average everyday eighteen-year-old. Except for one thing:
She’s from fifty years in the future.
Magnolia’s parents, two brilliant scientists, are the inventors of time travel, but due to widespread destruction and rampant abuse of the technology from a corrupt few, time travel is outlawed and punishable by death. When Magnolia’s parents are seized and executed for illegally traveling to the past, they leave Magnolia stranded in 2026 without a way to get home.
Now Magnolia has nowhere to turn but a complicated Kansas family with two sons—Fallon, her high school sweetheart with secrets of his own, and Ramsey, the brooding militia commander who hunts and kills criminals like her. Magnolia knows Ramsey resents and hates her, but how can he be her true enemy when he looks at her with such hunger, despite his callousness, and guards her with his very life? Which brother can she trust and is the real danger coming from inside the house?
“Different, dramatic, spicy, and completely entertaining—Broken Rival was Tessa Bailey taking a big swing, and I was here for it.” – Sara, Harlequin Junkie
“[A] dystopian new adult romance with a tense premise and a steamy enemies-to-lovers arc… this page-turner offers plenty of excitement.” – Publishers Weekly
“Bailey imaginatively pivots from her much-loved sports romances to something different. But while the time-travel inspired plot and almost dystopian setting are new, the snappy dialogue, sizzling chemistry, intense emotions, and hot sex are quintessential Bailey.” – John Charles, Booklist
Cormac McCarthy: A Legacy Revisited by Tracy Daugherty
nonfiction / biography / literature / history.
Cormac McCarthy is hailed as one of America’s greatest novelists. In his body of work, the nation’s story is told in incomparably vivid shades of violence, greed, and love. And yet, most of his personal story has been largely untold―until now.
Early in life, McCarthy chose to devote himself almost exclusively to his literary pursuits. Cormac McCarthy: A Legacy Revisited movingly details what this choice cost him in his family relationships, his marriages, and his friendships. Mentally and physically restless, often solitary and yet gregarious and charming, McCarthy lived as wildly, complexly, and close to the bone as any of his characters, journeying often to remote locations, communing deeply with the natural world, and traversing intricate emotional and psychological terrain. In his novels, he reported wisdom hard-learned through harsh experience and intense observation.
With precision and grace, Cormac McCarthy: A Legacy Revisited recounts his story from poverty to riches, obscurity to worldwide acclaim, and unveils the man behind the myth in a must-read biography for both lifelong fans and new McCarthy readers alike.
“…engrossing… [Daugherty] deftly separates the writer from the myth, capturing McCarthy’s evolution from a Southern writer to a Western one with a biography that pulls you along like a novel.” – Bill Heavey, Wall Street Journal
“…vivid and sweeping… an astute and penetrating portrait of a literary great.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“There’s a deep, lonely commitment to work displayed in Tracy Daugherty’s biography of Cormac McCarthy… the first full-dress biography we’ve had of this reclusive writer… It divulges a lot of new information, dispels myths, has strong set pieces and does a bloodhound’s job of tracing the overlaps between the life and the work.” – Dwight Garner, New York Times
Cozy Little Christmas by RaeAne Thayne
fiction / romance.
Hannah’s built a full life for herself in the warmth of her close-knit town, with her family, her work and her music. And when her dear friend Morgan desperately needs her help, Hannah temporarily steps in to care for Morgan’s children. That’s what friends do—especially at the holidays. But she never expected to run into Wes Kenner…
Moving back home is the last thing K9 law enforcement officer Wes Kenner ever wanted. It’s where he fell in love with Hannah—and where an accident changed his mother’s life forever. But when his grandfather needs a helping hand, he can’t say no. It’s the perfect opportunity for him and his beloved K9, Kodiak, to recover. Still, seeing Hannah again fills him with regret—and hope.
After all this time, Hannah still represents all of the joy and light Wes pushed out of his life. Everything he’s desperate to get back. And as Hannah brings much-needed holiday magic to Morgan—and her kids—he realizes this is his chance. Because this Christmas, all he wants is her.
“[It] has all the warmth of a Hallmark movie… Thayne knows exactly what she is doing and she delivers it beautifully.” – Kristen’s Book Korner
Devil on My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper & Daniel Richler
nonfiction / memoir / music / history.
In the beginning, Alice Cooper was the name of a rock group. Then my stage name. And then a monster. Now I’ve written a book that tracks Alice’s evilution, how he and I became almost fatally intertwined, and how I’ve tamed him at last. After over thirty records and sixty-plus years, the story of Alice Cooper has become a tangle of embellishments, elaborations and outright fabrications, that I think it’s time to sort reality from myth: the slaughtered chickens, the bans and record burnings, the evangelical terrors, Ouija boards and poltergeists, resurrections and revenge from the grave, the cross-dressers, thieves, drug addicts and hopeless alcoholics, the house fires and car crashes―all will be revealed for what they really were.
I’m also coming clean about the extent of my addictions, my blackout years, the creative process fueled by alcohol, drugs and round-the-clock TV, my scramble to the top of the pile and the terrible slide back down. I want to talk about the origin of “Cold Ethyl”, the guillotine and the dead babies, the best and worst of my reviews, my feelings of guilt and regret after people got hurt or died, what life was like on the road until the wheels came off the bus, what a romantic I am at heart and how I’ve stayed married for half a century even after my wife came at me with a frying pan.
And I want to talk about God. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna bang you on the head with a Bible, I just want to describe how it is that I found Him dwelling in me. Alice, that inveterate liar, was a voice in my ear for so long, whispering lies and sweet nothings, pretending to be my better conscience and my inspiration, pretending to be me, that I think it’s only right to present both sides of the story: the angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other.
“Mr. Nice Guy takes a hard-earned victory lap in this well-told tale.” – Kirkus Reviews
“…extraordinarily detailed… for the [Cooper] initiated, it’s a treat.” – Publishers Weekly
Every Story Is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue ★
fiction.
What if I’d never gotten into that car? What if I’d pulled out of the driveway five minutes earlier, or ten minutes later?
Three years ago, Wolo’s wife was killed in a tragic car accident. In an instant, the great love of his life was gone, and so was their beautiful future. In the face of a loss that seemed insurmountable, Wolo has slowly rebuilt a semblance of a life: he goes to work, hangs out with a small circle of friends, and fends off the matchmaking efforts of the older women in his family. The grief that dogged him has, with time, become a little gentler.
Until a letter arrives one day, unbidden, threatening to upend his life once again. It is from Victoria, the woman who was behind the wheel that terrible day. Wolo’s family pastor tells him the letter is the work of the devil; his mother expressly forbids him from making further mention of it; his father’s second wife calls, from Cameroon, to tell him to destroy it. But Wolo ponders it for days, and ultimately agrees to meet with the woman who killed his wife. When he does, the compassion and deep remorse of the woman affects him in ways he had never imagined, and he begins to wonder if the long road to healing can be shared.
What do we owe to those who have hurt us? Are we defined by our worst moments and our deepest regrets? And, more than anything, can forgiveness ease our suffering? Moving and full of life, Every Story Is a Love Story charts the uneven path from heartbreak to healing.
“[A] stunner.” – Nathalie Atkinson, Zoomer
“In Imbolo Mbue’s profound exploration of how different people move through grief, she affirms that there is indeed life after loss.” – Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness
“Imbolo Mbue limns the nature of loss amid the stresses of blighted relationships, imperfect faith, and unfulfilled promises.” – Hamilton Cain, Time
“Compelling characters navigate the moral and emotional complexities of forgiveness, stumbling into uncharted territory.” – Kirkus Reviews
Fair Ones by Lydia Millet
fiction.
Lydia Millet’s dialogue-driven, fast-moving double novel Fair Ones follows two Brooklyn women in their forties reeling from the sudden and baffling death of their friend Claire. Fair, Mara’s account, opens in the wake of initial shock as she and Jen come to grips with the enigma of Claire’s killing. Ones, told from Jen’s point of view, picks up a year later as she and Mara wrestle with new relationships and old secrets.
In this vibrant, funny-sad fiction of companionship and solitude, Millet dazzles with dry wit and sharp prose. The narrators’ inner and outer conversations, and their ongoing entanglement with the memory of Claire, explore the ways we create and define ourselves through others. Fair Ones is a love song to the intricate annoyances of families both chosen and unchosen―and to the banality, bombast, and humble beauties of midlife friendships.
“Lydia Millet’s precise prose is the star of her new novel.” – Hamilton Cain, Time
“It’s been said that friends are the family one chooses. Lydia Millet’s Fair Ones perfectly encapsulates that sentiment… emotionally astute… a story that’s honest, warm, and utterly realistic for anyone who’s enjoyed the bonds of a close, confiding friendship.” – Harvey Freedenberg, Shelf Awareness, STARRED REVIEW
“Millet spikes this transfixing tale with keen and caustic insights into friendship and love, privilege and obsession, delusion and truth, vulnerable children, aging parents, and imperiled nature, all amidst ambushing moments of wry humor and radiant beauty.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory
fiction / young adult / romance.
It’s the summer before her senior year of high school and Kat (Kitty to her family) planned to spend it reading good books, working on her college applications, and enjoying her independence. Instead, she’s stuck for an entire month with her family at a camp in the desert in Southern California.
When she stumbles across a staff party on the first night, she’s jealous of their joyful, uninhibited dancing. She hasn’t danced like that since two years ago, when she was forced to quit ballet, which she once loved more than anything. She’s determined to leave dance where it belongs — the past.
But Jordan, the handsome and magnetic hip-hop dance instructor, keeps dragging it into her present. As Kat begins sneaking around and lying to her parents to spend time with Jordan, she’ll have to ask herself — what is she willing to risk to finally feel free? And is it possible her feelings for Jordan could reignite her love for dance?
“A sweet summer romance that hits all the right beats.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Kat’s wry narration bursts with fun-loving energy and tongue-in-cheek wit, resulting in a tender and satisfying love story about reclaiming joy.” – Publishers Weekly
“Guillory’s care for the teens she’s created is clear throughout, as they’re surrounded by supportive parents and strong friendships. This ode to Dirty Dancing is a can’t-miss YA romance.” – Karis Rogerson, Booklist
Legends & Lattes: The Graphic Novel by Travis Baldree; adapted by Samuel Sattin; illustrated by Shanti Rittgers & Sarah Webb
fiction / graphic novel / fantasy.
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword. The battle-weary orc aims to start afresh, opening the city of Thune’s first-ever coffee shop. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success, not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her dreams a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. After all, the true rewards of an uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether they are drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup―Viv may find something deeper here than she ever imagined…
This full-color graphic novel adaptation brings the high fantasy and low stakes of this beloved story to vibrant life as it’s never been seen before.
“…gorgeous… For returning readers, these pages offer the pleasure of seeing familiar characters exchange looks across the counter. For newcomers, an orc trying to run a café while a gigantic cat appoints herself security is a pretty compelling introduction.” – Hannah Hunt, Collider
“Baldree’s best-selling novel about Viv, a newly retired mercenary settling down to pursue her dream of opening a coffee shop, comes vividly to life in this graphic adaptation, which is full of colorful, endearing characters and backgrounds that capture the lively energy of the town of Thune.” – Heather Ash, Booklist
“Highly recommended for cozy fantasy readers who missed the book that started it all and for fans of the series who want to visually see the story of their dear friends come to life.” – Marlene Harris, Library Journal
Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger ★
fiction / science fiction / romance / fantasy.
Alba DeTamble has never lived a life in order. Born with the same rare Chrono-Displacement Disorder as her father Henry, she slips unpredictably through decades, haunted by the secrets of a future she can witness but cannot change. As Alba strives to maintain a normal life with Zach, her safe, supportive anchor, she forms a tight-knit community of artists and activists who fight to take care of each other in an increasingly unstable world.
At once intimate and expansive, Life Out of Order plunges readers into a world of Niffenegger’s dazzling imagination: from the riot-torn streets of a dystopian Chicago, to a digital museum for forgotten memories and lost artifacts. Curating this ever-expanding museum is Isadora, Alba’s mysterious stepsister and an unsettling presence in their family – whose fate may be intertwined with Alba’s in more dangerous ways than she knows.
Told through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, the story moves through a boundless, unfolding universe of virtual reality, skimming the wildest reaches of technology and our natural world. The result is a testament to the power of art and community to sustain us in these fractured times—and an epic tale that’s set to define an entirely new genre in a way only Niffenegger can.
“One of the literary events of the year… Niffenegger doesn’t just bring readers a continuation of a timeless story; she creates a whole new world entirely to fall in love with.” – Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books
Saturated with feelings and insights, this is a breathtakingly intricate, magnetizing, and provocative novel of opulent imagination, daring vision, resonant compassion, epic sorrow and love, and genuine wisdom and hope.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“A devastating and hopeful look at what truly matters when the world falls apart.” – Kirkus Reviews
“…wildly creative… an innovative, entertaining story, with a turbulent finale that leaves open the slim possibility for further adventures in this universe. Above all, we are reminded that while love may be eternal, our planet most certainly is not.” – Ryan Davison, Chicago Reader
The Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg Anderson
fiction / fantasy / mystery.
Deep in the library lives a hidden room
where magic lines the shelves and memories lie in wait
Ready for readers daring enough to finally discover the truth.
In the coastal town of Foxhollow Bay, librarian Claire Ashford keeps her life as meticulously ordered as the centuries-old library she calls home. But when the town announces plans to shut it down, her sanctuary, and the life she’s built within its walls, begins to crumble.
One night, while wandering the stacks after hours, Claire discovers a door that shouldn’t exist. And behind it lies a secret room filled with books no one else can see.
Each book pulls her into the memories of those who have passed through the library’s doors―moments half-lived and stories left unfinished. Buried within these pages is a message the library has been trying to share, urging Claire to uncover the path to saving it.
With the demolition looming and time running out, Claire must piece together what the library is trying to show her. But one book keeps calling her back, and in its pages is a memory that could change everything. One that reveals the key to saving the library may be tangled in her own memories more than she ever could have imagined.
An ode to the power of community and hope, The Memory of Borrowed Books is a sweeping story about what’s at stake when the places we love―and the memories they hold―are threatened. A reminder that what we fight to preserve just might be the very thing that saves us in return.
“An ode to how much libraries mean to those who need them… With a whimsical yet compassionate storyline, this will appeal to library lovers as well as readers of deeply emotional stories.” – Kimberly McGee, Library Reads, TOP PICK: OCTOBER 2026
“This book satisfyingly blends mystery, thriller, and romance through pithy dialogue between relatable characters any reader would be glad to spend time with. Great for fans of The Midnight Library and The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks.” – Julie Schultz, The Indie Next List
“This gentle, uplifting story of the power of community and libraries will be a balm to many, especially with increasing reports of book challenges and budget cuts.” – Halle Carlson, Booklist
Mistletoe All the Way by Lauren Blakely
fiction / romance / comedy.
Dr. Noah Lennox lives by three holiday rules—avoid his hometown, cheerful people, and Christmas itself.
But when his beloved grandfather announces he’s retiring and handing the cherished sleigh-ride farm to either Noah or his slick cousin Stephen, the first rule goes out the window. Back home in Evergreen Falls, the veterinarian vows to fight for the farm that means everything to him. The problem is the town doesn’t exactly welcome its resident Scrooge with open arms.
Except for one very charming holiday enthusiast. Eloise Langston, a sunny tourism bureau hopeful, needs a win to land her dream job. Her holly jolly plan? Turn the broody, broad-shouldered grump into a festive front-runner to help the town’s Mr. Holiday competition draw record crowds.
Soon, in this “warm, witty, and impossible to put down” (Library Journal) tale, Noah and Eloise find themselves tangled in twinkle lights, fake kisses, and one very real attraction. But with the farm’s future at stake, Stephen’s scheming, and Eloise’s career on the line, there’s a blizzard of reasons to put their feelings on ice.
Or will they fight to turn their holiday fling into forever under the mistletoe?
“[A] heartwarming grumpy/sunshine romance… it’s a pleasure to witness the gradual softening of Noah’s cynical heart. This is sure to put readers in the holiday spirit.” – Publishers Weekly
“Blakely delivers all the requisite cozy small-town vibes of a Hallmark holiday rom-com combined with oodles of sexy heat (including a naughty Christmas carol-off), making this the perfect gift for readers who like their romances on the spicy side.” – John Charles, Booklist
“The holiday setting, the small town, and the supporting cast of characters, including a dog and horses, will put a smile on your face. A perfect book to read for the upcoming holidays.” – Red Carpet Crash
The Occidental Book of the Dead by T. Geronimo Johnson ★
fiction / mystery / suspense.
George Washington Jonson is determined to forge a new life. After growing up in one of Atlanta’s poorest housing projects, he enlists in the U.S. Army and finds some relief serving abroad. When events lead him back home, he joins the police force. It’s 1992, and Jonson is patrolling the streets he grew up on alongside his new partner, a shady legacy cop and self-described “redneck” who takes Jonson under his wing.
After a decade on the job, Jonson has fashioned a new life in an affluent suburb with his white wife and stepson, though he’s still policing his old neighborhood, and now tasked with training hot-headed rookie recruits. One night on patrol a split-second confrontation with a white teenager takes a violent turn. That single gunshot sets into motion a series of escalating lies.
When the white-washed veneer of Jonson’s life begins to crack, the story splits, presenting two contrasting versions of the American experience as he’s forced to confront the history that shaped him and the compromises required of a good man in a broken system.
Employing a bold, inventive structure and spanning two fraught decades, vividly evoking the complexities of the South, and written with his trademark virtuosic dissonance, The Occidental Book of the Dead is a propulsive, pyrotechnic exploration of corruption and conspiracy in a nation divided.
“[An] immersive and thought-provoking read.” – Laura Wilson, The Guardian
“Bitterly funny… stunning… Johnson has proven that he is one of the country’s finest writers of fiction, and this is his tour de force.” – Michael Schaub, Boston Globe
“The author thrillingly plays on expectations of a sympathetic main character and a story of vindication by keeping the reader guessing at the truth and the nature of his protagonist. Fans of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise will devour this.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“The Occidental Book of the Dead is a book for readers seeking wild, ambitious literature. It’s an athletic book for nerds who pump out supersets with Infinite Jest and House of Leaves, then wind down with Percival Everett… It’s ambitious, creative and, most important of all, unapologetic… With significant flourish, the author has created a flawed, inescapably human hero you still root for… an adrenaline-filled high-wire act. It’s funny when it needs to be, hard to track when it wants to be, and meticulously engineered at every moment. It is storytelling from a writer who knows the fundamentals of the craft well enough that he can break all the rules and still build a propulsive story.” – Jason Mott, New York Times
One Helluva Ride by Michael Douglas
nonfiction / memoir / film.
“I spent a significant portion of my career playing some version of the modern, flawed, American male. You’ll see from these pages that it wasn’t exactly a stretch for me.”
Beginning with his fractured childhood and a complex relationship with his superstar father, Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas finally gives the full and uncensored account of a remarkable life. One Helluva Ride reveals incredible behind-the-scenes stories featuring a Who’s Who of Hollywood, many of them never revealed before and some outrageously funny, with an unflinching honesty about his sometimes bad-boy life.
Initially dismissed as just the handsome son of a legendary movie star, at age thirty-one he shook up Hollywood when he won his first Oscar for producing the five-time Academy Award-winning classic film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Told he would never be more than a “TV actor,” he quit the hit series The Streets of San Francisco to become an international movie star, with a list of classic films that have grossed billions of dollars, winning a second Oscar for his riveting performance as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street.
“I can’t think about my life without thinking of my movies,” Douglas says, and he recounts his career through twelve of his most iconic films, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The China Syndrome, Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, War of the Roses, Basic Instinct, Falling Down, The American President, Traffic and Behind the Candelabra. These movies not only captured the cultural zeitgeist but often defined it.
Yet as Douglas’s fame grew, so did his personal struggles. He recounts the full, unfiltered story of his turbulent first marriage; infidelity and affairs with some of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood; his own serious struggle with alcohol, drugs and rehab; the heartbreaking fight to save his son from an addiction that sent him to prison; and his against-all-odds battle with stage IV cancer.
He saw Catherine Zeta Jones on a movie screen and instantly fell for her. Their incredible love story transformed his life and proved all the tabloids wrong, enduring after twenty-five years of marriage.
Father, son, husband, actor, producer, brother and friend. This is the real, raw, deeply honest and vulnerable Michael Douglas you didn’t know―until now.
“One Helluva Ride is a blockbuster — intimate and uncensored, worthy of a bucket of popcorn with extra butter.” – Elisabeth Egan, New York Times
“…one of the most earnest and entertaining celebrity memoirs you’re likely to read… full of revelatory, drop-your-book-in-your-lap moments…” – Drew Taylor, The Wrap
“[A] revealing and delightful account of a life in show business…” – Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times
Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King & Peter Straub ★
fiction / horror / fantasy / suspense.
This is Stephen King and Peter Straub’s epic and unforgettable finale to the Talisman Trilogy (including the novels Talisman and Black House) and a wrapping up of the fate of the worlds in King’s iconic, fiercely beloved Dark Tower epic. It is also a magnificent stand-alone novel, that will appeal to new readers, as well as to King’s Constant Readers.
Other Worlds Than These is the story of Jack Sawyer, whom readers first met when he was twelve, crossing America and “the territories” to save his mother’s life, and met again in Black House, where Jack faces a child killer and the Crimson King (among other evils). In Other Worlds Than These, Jack must stop a rampaging gang of infected teenagers from America-side, and the forces of the mysterious Gullet at the edge of Mid-World, before it destroys our world and all worlds. Jack is older now; his Ka-tet (echoing the world of Roland) is fraying; and his task, nearly impossible.
Magnificent, riveting, full of heart, and humor, Other Worlds Than These is a spectacular, propulsive adventure, and features thirty-six exclusive black-and-white illustrations by artist Gabriel Rodriguez. The title instantly announces to readers who already know these other worlds that King has returned to them. Other Worlds Than These will appeal to new King readers and his Constant Readers.
Booklist
“[King’s] most anticipated new release in years.” – Thomas Hindmarch, Polygon
“…one of the most exciting titles hitting shelves this year… an absolute feast for anyone who, like me, looks forward to revisiting King’s worlds…” Amanda Mullen, Movieweb
“[An] astonishingly good novel. It beautifully concludes Jack’s story while providing an interesting coda to the Dark Tower series. Fans of the earlier Talisman novels will absolutely love this one, and because King is a wizard at providing backstory, readers can come to this story cold, never having read its predecessors, and thoroughly enjoy it.” – David Pitt, Booklist
“[A] memento mori about growing up, and growing old, and moving on without some of the people who were with you on the path when you started out… a story that is simultaneously an escape from real life and an insightful reminder of what matters… [the] novel itself isn’t melancholy or ponderous. It’s a roller-coaster ride, but among its stomach-dropping powers is the ability to make the world of the past reach out its hand to the present.” – Anthony Breznican, Esquire
Partita by Barbara Kingsolver ★
fiction / historical fiction / music.
Livia Cable has made her peace with her marriage and modest livelihood in the farm country where she grew up, until a shocking phone call from an old lover shakes her to the core. Decades earlier, this man knew her as Livia Bohusz, a music conservatory student estranged from her home and family, uncertain of anything except her passion for music and promise as an extraordinary pianist. His request, now, to see her again stirs up ghosts she’s kept at bay for a lifetime.
Shifting between past and present, Livia’s decision to meet or reject the reunion means confronting step by step, in memories framed as musical dances, the experiences of childhood loss, abandonment, self-immolating passion, and perilous attachment to a man who broke her belief in love and ruptured the course of her life.
“Following her Pulitzer Prize–winning Demon Copperhead, Kingsolver presents an enrapturing, brilliantly plotted, deeply personal, and profoundly insightful celebration of the life of the land, the skills and struggles of farmers, and the transcendent power of art to bring us together, make us feel ‘more alive,’ and make us whole.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist
“[Partita] wrestles with the questions that have fueled [Kingsolver’s] whole career–namely, who is art for, what makes it good, and what can it actually accomplish?” – Casey Cep, The New Yorker
“Barbara Kingsolver has done it again. In this masterfully orchestrated novel, an unexpected call forces a once-ascendent pianist to revisit the affair that reshaped her youth and the career that vanished alongside it… Partita refuses easy distinctions between destiny and choice, showing how class background, family damage, and thwarted ambition can keep shaping us long after we believe their power has faded.” – Oprah Daily
“…moving… Expertly interweaving themes of class and healthcare, Kingsolver grapples with the question of artistic ambition versus family obligation.” – Town & Country
The Phantom: The Untold Story of the American Marine the Nazis Could Not Kill by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin
nonfiction / biography / history.
Major Pierre “Pete” Ortiz was a Manhattan-born and Paris-educated polymath fluent in five languages. An adventuresome French Foreign Legion veteran specifically recruited by “Wild” Bill Donovan’s Office of Strategic Services (the precursor to both the CIA and U.S. Special Forces) upon his enlistment in the Marines, Ortiz was the officer “Wild Bill” instinctively knew he needed and could rely on to complete a string of clandestine missions.
While recuperating from gunshot wounds received during a behind-the-lines excursion into enemy-held North Africa, Ortiz delivered his After-Action Report directly to Donovan in Washington. After reading it, “Wild Bill” scrawled across the top of the report: “Please re-employ this man as soon as possible.” Ortiz’s handlers heeded Donovan’s request. Within a year Ortiz was surreptitiously parachuted into the Haute Savoie region of Occupied France, where he made contact with the resistance fighters who called themselves Maquisards.
By the time he retired as a United States Marine Corps colonel, he received two Navy Crosses for extraordinary heroism in World War II. He was one of the very few U.S. Marines to serve in combat in Europe during World War II, and one of the most decorated Marine officers of the war.
“Feats of daring-do abound in this rollicking WWII chronicle… a cinematic saga of a real-life hero who puts James Bond to shame.” – Publishers Weekly
“If you want a fast-paced World War II story about a man you probably hadn’t heard of before, this is a solid one to pick up.” – History Nerds United
“Drury and Clavin bring their top-notch narrative flair to this history of high-flying WWII commando operations, bringing to life amazing adventures behind enemy lines with the French Resistance… Equally entertaining and informative, this will be readily welcomed by fans of the authors as well as readers fascinated by military and intelligence operations.” – James Pekoll, Booklist
The Pools by e. lockhart
fiction / young adult / romance / fantasy / poetry.
Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.
But no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if they should be.
When new girl Lexie meets golden boy Chester, their chemistry is undeniable. She’s running from a glittering life she won’t speak about. He’s hiding secrets of his own. Their connection feels bigger than both of them, despite their damage.
One frigid winter morning in that small New England town, five people go for a swim in the pools. Five people, including Chester. What happens there sends shock waves through the town, changing life as Lexie knows it forever.
“Come for the romance; stay for the artistry.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] bittersweet, haunting love story that blends magic with facing painful struggles. Written part in verse, this adds to how a folktale world collides with ours.” – Kim Baccellia, YA Books Central
“[A] striking fusion of contemporary teen romance and haunting fairy tale… Across 11 sections relayed via meticulously arranged prose and occasional poetry, steady, understated language alternates between several teens’ perspectives and that of an omniscient narrator. It’s a brisk and cleverly conceived novel that successfully straddles realism and fantasy.” – Publishers Weekly
Requiem for Gaza by Chris Hedges & Joe Sacco
nonfiction / graphic novel / current events / history.
In the spring of 2025 the cartoonist Joe Sacco, author of Palestine and Footnotes in Gaza, and Chris Hedges, the former Middle East Bureau Chief for The New York Times, traveled to Cairo where they interviewed 29 Palestinian families who had recently left Gaza. In Requiem for Gaza, they use the experience and stories of these families to detail the crucible of the genocide, the loss of homes and communities, the appalling death toll among friends and loved ones, the constant displacement, the terror of indiscriminate killing, the hunger and deprivation, the obliteration of all that was known and familiar, and the struggle to cope with the callous indifference of a world that continues to supply Israel with weapons despite its wholesale destruction of Gaza and mass slaughter.
Requiem for Gaza, like their New York Times best seller Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, combines comics and single images drawn by Sacco within the narrative written by Hedges. Hedges’ vivid prose and Sacco’s visceral images complement each other and together paint a portrait of dignity and suffering under genocide. The collective power of the individual stories that chronicle the first day of the genocide, the forced evacuation of homes, the targeted assassinations, the false hopes engendered by ceasefires, the dislocation and alienation of exile, the brutal killing and hasty burial of family members, and the humiliation of living under tarps without clean food and water bring every aspect of the genocide to life. Set against this horror are stories of self-sacrifice and compassion that show how Palestinians not only clung to their humanity, but morally triumphed over their killers.
“…necessary… Be warned: these stories are tragic and brutal. They also must be shared… This bold work is a must-buy.” – Jack Phoenix, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“…by highlighting the hopes, experiences, and names of Gazans uprooted from their lives, the work becomes what it promises to be: a memorial to a world already destroyed.” – Publishers Weekly
“The master of graphic reportage and author of Palestine teams up with veteran war correspondent Hedges to document the devastating Israeli war on Gaza and its human impact. Interviewing 29 displaced Palestinian families, Sacco and Hedges tell stories of death, destruction and resilience.” – The Guardian
The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World by Nathaniel Philbrick ★
nonfiction / history / sociology.
In January 1848, a carpenter spotted flecks of gold in a shallow stream at Sutter’s Mill in California, triggering the greatest voluntary migration in U.S. history, as hundreds of thousands raced west in pursuit of sudden wealth, reinvention, and power. From the feverish gold-mining camps of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the wharves and vigilance committees of San Francisco, Nathaniel Philbrick renders a combustible, all-world society: Chilean brothers reinventing themselves to outrun prejudice; Native communities navigating dispossession and violence; the merchant-showman Samuel Brannan, drawn into the center of early vigilantism; and the politicians vying for control of California’s future—the ambitious Free-Soil political boss David Broderick, who squared off against William Gwin, the Southern power broker intent on tilting the state toward slavery and the Confederacy.
In The Rush, Nathaniel Philbrick transforms the Gold Rush from a tale of sudden riches into the origin story of America’s modern contradictions—capital consolidated at dizzying speed, democracy in thrall to private power, xenophobia weaponized in the name of liberty—and a stubborn belief in the American experiment that refuses to die. This is the story of a nation tearing at the seams and a republic tested by its own ideals. Not until a year after the outbreak of the Civil War, when President Lincoln signed legislation that would unite the nation east to west by building a transcontinental railroad, was California’s loyalty secured.
Philbrick follows the gold as it moves from riverbed to countinghouse to the halls of power, revealing how vigilantism hardened into law and how debates over slavery in the West tipped the balance in Washington. The result is a clear, human story of how a scramble for wealth reshaped ideas of freedom, labor, and belonging—and how California’s rise helped push a fractured nation toward war. The Rush is alive with characters whose choices still reverberate: a searing, panoramic epic that captures both the fury and the promise of America.
“A lucid, lively melding of economic and political history that casts new light on the Golden State.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Tracing stories as varied as those of white supremacists vying for control of San Francisco, Chilean miners persecuted despite admiration for their expertise, and Leland Stanford’s consolidation of power as a railroad executive, Philbrick traces how various tenets of modern American life found their beginning in the Gold Rush, from capitalism’s stranglehold on democracy to xenophobia’s weaponization by nativists to Americans’ confidence in innovation. It’s a gripping account of the California dreaming that propelled America forward, for better or worse.” – Publishers Weekly
“[A] panoramic look at the California gold rush, California and the Civil War, and how they shaped the modern world… offers vivid and noteworthy accounts of clipper ships, pre-Panama Canal travel, and the remarkabale work done by the Chinese men who built the transcontinental railroad. The book ends deftly, tracing a throughline from the free-wheeling prospectors and their world to today’s tech bros.” – John Rowen, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Philbrick, winner of the National Book Award, recreates the surge of miners, millers, hucksters, and sex workers that came to California, highlighting how the Gold Rush maneuvered the nation toward a bloody civil war as slaveholders and abolitionists wrangled over the distant territory’s entry into the Union. He draws connections between staggering fortunes and the Southern strategy to expand slavery westward, an inescapable bind of race and class, from sea to shining sea.” – Hamilton Cain, Time
The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth ★
fiction / young adult / fantasy / science fiction / romance.
Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives.
She has a plan: she’s going to make the bravest choice and leave Abnegation to join Dauntless, even though it means abandoning her family.
But when tragedy strikes at her choosing ceremony, everything changes—her world, her plans, even Beatrice herself.
Her decision will thrust her into the crosshairs of an underground rebellion, where a boy with secrets as dangerous as her own—a boy with only a number for a name—may be the only person she can trust.
One choice will change everything.
“Both entertaining and well-written; demands and holds readers’ attention.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] daring creative risk… mature and emotionally layered… Grief, identity, conformity, loyalty, and power add emotional weight to this suspenseful reimagining. Familiar yet genuinely unpredictable, this exciting series opener should satisfy longtime Divergent fans while inviting a new generation to choose their faction.” – Aurora Dominguez, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
The Splintered Sun by Tad Williams
fiction / fantasy / adventure.
With the old King of Hernystir’s health failing, warlords carve up the land and rival factions clash over the rightful heir. Into this chaos steps Flann, joined by allies both noble and common, to help the King’s one legitimate heir claim his father’s blessing and restore stability. But enemies, human and inhuman, stalk their every move, determined to end Flann’s quest before it begins.
Packed with action, unforgettable characters, and the sweeping imagination that has made Tad Williams one of fantasy’s most beloved voices, this is the high fantasy world of Osten Ard as you’ve never seen it before.
“Tad Williams does not write a bad book… Filled with a diverse cast of characters and races, whether you are a veteran or newcomer to the world of Osten Ard, The Splintered Sun will do its best to ensure your reading time and experience in this new tale is absolutely worthwhile.” – Petrik Leo, Novel Notions
“There’s plenty of politics and even more daring escapades… Williams’ return to the legendary past of Osten Ard is a promising beginning to an epic adventure, with a wealth of details and a broad cast of characters.” – Regina Schroeder, Booklist
The Third Eye: Early Photographs by George Harrison
nonfiction / photography / music / history.
From 1963 to 1969, George Harrison traveled the world with his bandmates, Pentax in hand, chronicling their impossible path from Liverpool to Ed Sullivan, Adelaide to Rishikesh, the Eiffel Tower to the beaches of Tahiti and beyond.
In this extraordinary collection of George’s personal photos and 8mm film stills—curated by Olivia Harrison, George’s widow—are singular images of Paul, John, Ringo, and George and the band’s friends and entourage as they rocketed to stardom and fostered the joyful madness that came to be known as Beatlemania. This revelatory, beautifully designed book takes the reader along on their first plane ride to the US, motorcades through the Australian outback, shopping trips in Paris, and more.
The candid, unguarded photos, brimming with Harrison’s wit, intelligence and penchant for experimentation (he was enamored of selfies, long before the iPhone), and snapped in those rare moments out of the spotlight offer a remarkable, inside look at the human beings behind the Beatles, trying to hold onto themselves—and enjoy themselves—while standing at the center of the storm.
The Third Eye opens a window into the world of the Beatles—and the transformative cultural moment that they sparked—through the singular artistic vision of George Harrison.
“A delightful reminder of Harrison’s playful spirit.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The Third Eye presents an unfiltered view of the Beatles’ early years.” – NPR
Victorious by V.E. Schwab ★
fiction / fantasy / science fiction / suspense.
Eli Ever. Victor Vale.
Two men, first best friends, then mortal enemies, each destined to be the other’s shadow.
One left standing―but the game isn’t over yet
Against all the years–and the odds―a group of allies and arch rivals meet on a chess board set by an opponent they couldn’t have predicted… to see who will be victorious.
“[A] must-read…” – Frances Moritz, Booklist
“[A] gripping and nuanced saga with an ending that feels both inevitable and well earned. Who is victorious? The author and the readers.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“[A] victoriously satisfying finale… This was what we have been waiting for all these years.” – Caitlin Lloyd, FanFiAddict
“The ethical dilemmas here hit different from your standard fantasy fare. There’s no Dark Lord, no prophecy, no chosen one. Just people with extraordinary abilities making choices that feel disturbingly rational given their circumstances… Schwab stuck the landing. In a genre full of series that fumble the finale, Victorious closes the loop without betraying the moral complexity that made the series work in the first place.” – Tom Bradley, AudiobookSoul
The Way We Become by Amber Smith
fiction / young adult.
Eden struggled to find her voice for years after her brother’s friend Kevin raped her. It wasn’t until Kevin’s ex-girlfriend Gen and his sister, Amanda, came forward, that Eden knew she wasn’t alone. Determined to do everything in their power to pursue justice, Eden, Amanda, and Gen testified against Kevin in a trial that turned their lives inside out.
In the wake of the judge’s decision, they are now expected to move on—all while grappling with the hurt and grief that are never far behind. Amanda is adrift finishing high school, Eden is still learning what it means to be in a healthy relationship, and college dropout Gen is struggling to find direction at all. On three different paths toward healing, each girl has to chart her own course forward to discover the woman she’ll become.
“A gut-wrenching read about the stark and horrific realities of surviving in the aftermath of violent crime.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Three young women rediscover themselves in the wake of a tragic, life-altering act in this powerful final installment in Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be series.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
fiction / young adult / fantasy / horror.
At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain overrun with vicious monsters and carnivorous plants. For orphaned best friends Petra and Jade, guiding treasure-seeking tourists down into the Void is the only way to earn enough to pull themselves up out of the slums for good.
Petra prefers to play it safe and take jobs only in the Void’s upper levels, where the dangers are better understood, while Jade wants to risk a descent to the deepest and most mysterious Sixth Layer. Because the deeper they go, the better the payout, and the sooner their dreams can become reality. Their friendship is Petra’s whole world, and Jade’s approval means everything—so Petra agrees to do it Jade’s way.
When their job goes wrong and Jade is lost in the Void, Petra must plunge deeper than she’s ever dared to save her friend. But she doesn’t know the truth of the Void… or what really waits for her in its depths.
“[A] delightfully creepy biological survival horror story.” – Emily Martin, Book Riot
“A nail-biting tale set in a beautifully rendered world of darkness and danger.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Intricate worldbuilding and astounding, inventive horror elements distinguish this immersive dystopian fantasy novel… Each level of the abyss is described with cinematic precision, populating the hostile ecosystem with grotesquely imagined flora and fauna that boast unsettling auras and lethal abilities. As the unforgiving environment tests the distinctly realized protagonists, themes of trust and betrayal deepen the pulse-pounding adventure, resulting in a gruesome, standout portrait of survival.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
The Witch by Freida McFadden
fiction / suspense / mystery / horror.
When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family’s sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she’s there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she’s hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.
Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.
Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia’s bedroom door.
As Julia digs into the house’s dark history, she uncovers the story of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692―and realizes the past may not be finished with Pemberton yet. When decades of family lies begin to surface, Julia must confront a terrifying truth: Pemberton may be haunted by women whose voices refuse to stay silent.
“The author of The Housemaid delivers a new type of thrill… terrifying…” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
“McFadden’s growing legion of fans will thoroughly enjoy her foray into the supernatural in this satisfying, suspenseful yarn.” – Kristine Huntley, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“McFadden blends colonial witch trial panic with modern spooky suspense, creating an easy-to-read mystery… a breezy, fun mystery that offers an entertaining mix of Puritan paranoia and ghost stories.” – Saurabh Chawla, Storizen
Wondrous by Heather Fawcett
fiction / young adult / fantasy.
Years after her first tumble down the rabbit hole, Alice returns to Wonderland for good. As a young woman with limited options in 19th century London, only Wonderland can grant her the freedom she craves, like the chance to open a traveling magical tea shop.
Even though Alice expects madness from familiar faces like Hatter, Hare, and the Cheshire Cat, she doesn’t expect to meet another real-world teenager—one who claims she is the “true” Alice and the first adventurer to explore Wonderland. Soon, the Queen of Hearts’ soldiers capture both girls and bring them to the castle, and more startling truths come to light: dozens of other so-called “Alices” have appeared in Wonderland, too.
Based on a strange prophecy, the Queen believes one Alice is destined to save Wonderland from utter peril: three ghastly mock dragons who have invaded from another realm. Whoever can stop the mock dragons will be named “The Alice”… while the others will be exiled, never allowed to return.
Determined to secure Wonderland’s future and her own, Alice sets out on a daring quest, equipped only with her enchanted tea set. Hesitant to trust any other Alices, she forms a tenuous alliance with a strange boy with a connection to the fearful jabberwocks of lore. But is Alice truly the Alice in Wonderland, or a mere footnote in another heroine’s story?
“[An] imaginative twist on the classic tale.” – Isabelle McConville, B&N Reads
“Good fun in a topsy-turvy world.” – Kirkus Reviews
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