“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.” – Brigid Kemmerer, A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Broadway in Black and White: The Untold Story of the American Musical by John Mauceri & John H. McWhorter

nonfiction / history / theater.

Shaped by Black musical traditions, European theatrical forms, and immigrant cultures, the Broadway musical emerged in the twentieth century as a visceral embodiment of the American melting pot. In Broadway in Black and White, conductor and historian John Mauceri―together with linguist and cultural commentator John H. McWhorter―presents a dazzling history of collaboration between Black and white artists in the American musical theater.

Moving from ragtime and operetta through Show Boat and Shuffle Along to The Lion King, Ragtime, and Hamilton, Mauceri reveals how Broadway’s social and political influence extends far beyond artistic achievements and commercial successes. Incisive, deeply personal interludes by McWhorter offer a parallel perspective on the American musical as a testament to cultural exchange.

Mauceri and McWhorter illustrate that the Broadway musical both reflected and accelerated the nation’s continued strides toward racial equality. Politically active works confronted prejudice and invited audiences to imagine a more just society. Equally potent was the visible fact of Black and white artists writing, creating, and performing together, when segregation still shaped much of American life.

Together, Mauceri and McWhorter celebrate the American musical as an art form belonging to all of us. Though this history contains prejudice, exclusion, compromise, and contradiction, it is also a history of extraordinary progress. Broadway in Black and White lovingly presents Broadway as a metaphor for America in all its complexity―fragmented and imperfect, yet eminently capable of becoming greater than the sum of its parts.

“An illuminating account of Broadway’s multiracial history.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“…thoughtful and illuminating… Expansive coverage, insightful observations, and lively writing make this an essential title for performing arts collections and required reading for anyone interested in musical theater.” – Carolyn Mulac, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Focussed on an interchange that may seem, from a conventional point of view, auxiliary but is in fact foundational… What emerges is that part of the musical’s staying power rises from its capacity to meld musical traditions, and make that marriage embody the political preoccupations of changing times… they make a persuasive case that the signature style of the Broadway musical was the genius of Black agony passed through the prism of Jewish melancholy.” – Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker

Captive Traitor King by Brigid Kemmerer

fiction / fantasy / romance.

CAPTIVE. Asher has always sworn loyalty to Jory, the princess he’s loved from afar—but now the King of Incendar has claimed a place in his heart too. Someone wants them both dead, and only Asher’s blade can keep them safe. Yet his past won’t let him go, and he must decide if he can break free—or remain prisoner to his old scars.

TRAITOR. Princess Jory of Astranza agreed to marry the King of Incendar to secure peace, but betrayal runs closer than she ever imagined. With her own brother unmasked as her enemy, two kingdoms teeter on the edge. To protect her people, she must take the throne. But there are still dark secrets to unravel that will force Jory to confront where her true allegiance lies.

KING. Maddox Kyronan has discovered trust—and something more—with his reluctant bride and her deadly protector, but the fragile alliance between their nations threatens to unravel. His people are starving. His enemies are circling in. Torn between the crown and his heart, Ky risks losing it all.

As buried truths surface and tensions reach a breaking point, Jory, Asher, and Ky must confront the desires that could save their kingdoms—or shatter them forever.

“Kemmerer delivers a sequel full of magic, royal intrigue, and love that will captivate her readers once again.” – Sharon Layburn, Library Reads, TOP PICK NOVEMBER 2026

“Full of intrigue, action, magic, and spice, Kemmerer excels with her sophomore adult romantasy and will leave you begging for more!” – Jennifer Jones, The Indie Next List

“The banter between the characters continues to earn high marks, as does the scorching heat. The unexpected twists expand the storyline and leave readers ready for the conclusion set to arrive with the third book.” – Amy Wilson, Novels Alive, REVIEWER’S CHOICE

Castles: A Fortified History of the World from the Bronze Age to the Nuclear Age by Dan Jones

nonfiction / history.

Castles have been built to defend humanity for millennia—from the walls of Troy in the Bronze Age and the desert bastion of Krak des Chevaliers in Syria; to Windsor Castle and the Tower of London; to Himeji in Japan and Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. They have inspired terror and passion, foiled conquering forces, and been deployed as the ultimate expression of wealth, status, and supremacy.

In Castles, Jones leads readers on a journey through the many eras of castle-building and across continents as each stronghold tells a unique story of power, politics, and survival, revealing the shifting tides of warfare, the rise and fall of empires, the resilience of people under siege, and the flourishing of new ideas.

Blending rich storytelling, deep research, and beautiful original illustrations, Castles is an epic story of why humans build fortifications and how they powerfully capture our imagination. With Jones’s trademark scholarship and flair, he shows how defiance, endurance, and ambition have been carved into the landscapes we’ve inherited.

“A fascinating look at the human impulse to protect and defend homes, communities, and nations.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“…Jones’ book explores not just the history of castle building but the idea of a castle and why civilizations all over the world have been constructing them for centuries… Fans of history and architecture will enjoy this book.” – Erin Sommers, Booklist

“Castles are an ideal subject for Jones’s loose-limbed confection of military history, archaeology, and cultural study, as they come equipped with both hair-raising war stories and colorful characters… an entertaining tour of some of the world’s most iconic structures and dramatic sagas.” – Publishers Weekly

Dams by Irene Solà; translated by Mara Faye Lethem

fiction.

This is Ada, back in her village after studying abroad in London, once again driving around with Vicenç Jr. and coming home giddy late in the summer night. These are Ada’s fingers in the morning, charging across the computer keys, capturing and inventing stories, like the story of Vicenç Sr., the farmer who lost two fingers in a combine and loves to dance, and the story of Josefa Puig who was attacked by a cow, the story of the cow obsessed with seeing the stone that gleams in the darkness inside every creature, the story of Ada’s earrings after Vicenç Jr. angrily tossed them into the Sau Reservoir where they were swallowed by an enormous catfish, the story of the old catfish with gold in its belly who was eventually hauled out of the lake by some eager then regretful boys, and the story of the dams that could not hold in the end and the water that rushed through the veins, that mercilessly and ecstatically flooded the heart.

Alternating between the story of Ada and Ada’s stories, Irene Solà’s debut novel is a brilliant and heady ode to life in community, impossible and enduring love, and the wellspring of the imagination that fills everything it touches with magic.

“…magnificent… Solà’s enthralling project is packed with surprises.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] genre-defying delight of multilayered fiction… ‘This is…’ prefaces the sections that are Solà’s framing narrative, but names and details in Ada’s creations align or overlap enough to provocatively and brilliantly challenge readers to consider the nature of storytelling here and beyond.” – Terry Hong, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“In this metafictional masterclass, Irene Solà brings to life a land haunted by ghosts of the Spanish Civil War and the stories that her narrator Ada writes. Dams is rich with lore and complicated by the layers of storytelling, creating a genre-defying story about memory and desire.” – Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books

Guesting: How to Show Up, Win Over Your Host, and Make the Most of Any Occasion by Gail Simmons

nonfiction / etiquette / food / cooking.

Countless influential voices have written books about hosting, offering tips for what to cook, how to set the perfect table, mix the best drinks and create the most welcoming vibes. But hospitality, by definition, involves at least two people; where is the advice for guests?

Culinary expert and perennial Top Chef judge Gail Simmons is something of a professional on the subject. As a tastemaker and lifestyle authority, she is invited to countless social events running the gamut from world-class fine dining and international affairs to neighborhood potlucks. Through it all, she knows that for any gathering to be a success, guests must rise to the occasion and actively embrace their role.

In Guesting, Gail unpacks the reciprocal nature of this relationship and explores the sometimes-tricky choreography that governs its dance. She also shares her essential tenets of guesting, and proven strategies for navigating any social situation (yes, even assigned seating). From dinner parties to weddings, religious observances to restaurants, Guesting guides readers through all types of “get-togethers” with confidence and grace. It also connects the vital role guesting plays in our wellbeing and the integrity of our collective culture, at a moment when technology and the temptation for short-term comfort have diminished our inherent need to create―and maintain―human relationships.

And since any good guest knows that bringing something to the table is always the right move, Gail shares ideas and recipes for thoughtful store-bought contributions, homemade food gifts, and favorite dishes to share with a crowd. Whether you’re visiting an old friend, going out for dinner, or attending a milestone celebration, Gail has the answers and inspiration to help you become the consummate guest.

“[A] charming, warm, funny, and truly informational guide to being a good guest—even in tough situations. Consider this your primer for the upcoming holiday party onslaught.” – Town & Country

“A low-stress but pointed primer in how not to be the featured disaster at a social event.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Just as there is an art to hosting, there is an art to being a guest, and who better to revive this skill than Top Chef judge and food expert Simmons?… [she] manages to be authoritative without ever sounding snobbish or condescending, and her book will help all kinds of readers approach business trips, life milestones, and celebrations with confidence and kindness. At a time when etiquette feels like a lost art, this refreshing guide encourages readers to put their best foot forward.” – Sarah Tansley, Booklist

Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson

fiction / short stories / mystery.

Walt Longmire, sheriff of Absaroka County, investigates a series of eccentric small-town crises in fifteen holiday-inspired stories. An old dog mysteriously escapes the animal shelter night after night. A deputy deploys an unexpected diversion during a hostage standoff. The baby Jesus vanishes from a nativity scene. And Walt faces one of his most challenging assignments yet: caring for a 150-year-old sourdough starter, while apprehending a seven-year-old suspect with the diction of a 1930s gumshoe.

With a foreword by Longmire actor A Martinez, Have Courage is a gripping and open-hearted holiday collection—rich with the humor, humanity, and irresistible high jinks of Craig Johnson’s Absaroka County.

“The O. Henry–esque twists that conclude every story in this collection are intricately plotted and expertly written. Like assorted homemade Christmas cookies, each story is an entire and perfect treat.” – Barbara Conaty, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“The stories may be short, but they still feel like authentic Longmire adventures. There truly isn’t a bad story in the bunch… gives fans everything they enjoy about the series in smaller, more easily digestible pieces.” – Daniel, Looking for a Good Book

The Heights by Ian Rankin

fiction / mystery / suspense.

Facing Hyde Park, The Heights is London’s most coveted luxury high-rise apartment—designed to satisfy every need, with a gym, infinity pool, cinema, and more, where self-made owner-developer Allan Franklyn himself has claimed the penthouse duplex. His neighbors include some of “Money London’s” biggest personalities: a wealthy art dealer, a young heartthrob pop star, a foreign heiress, a gangster’s wife. The residents are used to service, deference, and privacy, all on their terms.

But when nighttime concierge Dwayne Hogarth is found dead in the lobby, none of that is in their control anymore, and everyone’s under the unwelcome scrutiny of Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish. Her questions begin with the party on the 4th floor the night Dwayne died, which ended with a fight; the missing key to one of the apartments; and a mysterious gap in the security camera footage. Before long, Gish uncovers the unsavory truths and dark secrets that lurk beneath the glittering facades of the building and its inhabitants.

Filled with shocking twists and unforgettable characters, The Heights confirms Ian Rankin’s status as one of the most original and compelling crime writers of our time.

“This sleek and fast-moving mystery ends with a perfectly planted double whammy.” – Mark Sanderson, The Times

“[A] twisty, well-crafted investigation with more emotional depth than the average whodunit.” – Publishers Weekly

“Rankin ingeniously combines straightforward police procedure with the flavor of a country house mystery. The high-rise only has 11 permanent residents, so the people gathered at the owner’s party have that cozy, country house blend of strangers, intimates, and people with secrets and hidden ties thrown together and united by imminent danger. Detective Sergeant Gish, from a hardscrabble background far removed from this atmosphere of wealth and privilege, is a joy to watch.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? by Judi Dench with Brendan O’Hea

nonfiction / memoir / film / theater.

In Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea take us on a heartfelt and hilarious tour of her extraordinary life and career. From growing up in York and being miffed at not getting the part of Mary in the school Nativity play, to playing before sold-out houses on Broadway and in London’s West End, she’s done it all. She walked the red carpets of Hollywood, turned James Bond’s M into the most astute, unflinching Head of MI6 anyone could ever have imagined, and won an Oscar, a Tony, Golden Globes, Oliviers, and BAFTAs along the way.

Yet despite the accolades, she has been accompanied by doubt. From the movie producer who said she had “everything wrong” with her face, to the theatre director who advised her against doing sitcom. Is it any wonder she leaves a bag by the rehearsal room door in case she has to make a run for it?

But stepping out of her comfort zone has been Judi’s guiding principle and in Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, she reveals all to Brendan – her friend and writing partner. She tells stories of pranks (both onstage and off), dissects her greatest screen roles, shares tales of her joyful marriage to actor Michael Williams, and talks about her passion for nature and animals.

As told to Brendan O’Hea, this is Judi Dench’s story – funny, honest, intimate, enlightening, surprising, moving, and deeply inspiring. Over ninety years in the making, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? is the story of the world’s most beloved actor.

“The whole project is kept afloat by Dench’s rare humour and warmth which long ago elevated her to national treasure status… Her eyesight is now poor, but her memories are pin-sharp, relayed through a prism of amused self-deprecation and passion for her job.” – Fiona Sturges, The Guardian

“Hilarious, fortifying notes on a life largely spent chasing fun.” – Kirkus Reviews

“[A] lovely conversation between friends and colleagues. O’Hea knows just where and how to tease out juicy tidbits, and Dench is wily enough to know when to dish and when to withhold… For aspiring actors, Dench offers a master class in professional behavior and artistic approach. Theater and film buffs will be rewarded with insider anecdotes, while Dench’s loyal fans will delight in her candor and vulnerability.” – Carol Haggas, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Just a Shot Away: Martin Scorsese’s Life in Film by Mark Binelli

nonfiction / history / biography / film.

Just a Shot Away chronicles the brilliant and tumultuous life and career of Martin Scorsese, one of the world’s foremost living filmmakers, from his childhood on the violent streets of mid-century Little Italy, recreated in unprecedented detail, to his tectonic contributions to the cinema of the New Hollywood and beyond. The making of such masterpieces as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Waltz are explored here in revelatory depth, along with undersung favorites like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and After Hours.

With new sources and interviews, Mark Binelli conjures Scorsese’s asthmatic boyhood, spent memorizing movies and watching wiseguys. He traces the earliest steps out of Little Italy and into filmmaking, marriage, and the halting path to recognition, which, when it came, coincided with a personal life spiraling out of control. Previously untold fly-on-the-wall accounts detail wild stories of cocaine-fueled days and nights jetting to international film festivals and hunkered down behind the blacked-out windows of the director’s infamous Mulholland Drive bachelor pad (shared with Robbie Robertson of The Band). Yet Scorsese rebounded with a career that itself serves as a pocket history of the more than half-century of Hollywood he’s traversed, making classics decade after decade in a startling array of genres and for nearly every major studio.

Through deep archival research, interviews with dozens of friends and collaborators, and access to a trove of previously undiscovered material, including firsthand accounts from Scorsese, his parents, Robertson, Robert De Niro, and ex-wife Isabella Rossellini, Just a Shot Away dynamically recasts the life of the master filmmaker with brio and the headlong, form-shattering dynamism of one of its subject’s own indelible pictures.

“Just a Shot Away is a detailed, funny, and insightful biography worthy of its subject’s mighty stature…” – Michael O’Donnell, The American Scholar

“…epic… a vivid and vital portrait of a one-of-a-kind filmmaker.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“Unlike most other books about film director Martin Scorsese, this one aims to be a true biography rather than a greatest-hits compendium or a superficial survey of his films… Think of this portrait as capturing the Martin Scorsese who lives behind the man we think we already know.” – David Pitt, Booklist

The Last King of Faerie by Cassandra Clare

fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance.

It’s Drusilla Blackthorn’s fourth year at Shadowhunter Academy when a chance encounter at a nightclub turns into a kidnapping. Dru finds herself held prisoner by Prince Ash Morgenstern in the land of Faerie, a place that proves just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Despite herself, Dru is drawn to Ash and the darkness that seems to surround him—but one false move could cost her life.

Meanwhile, a shocking disappearance rocks the foundations of the Shadowhunter world. Kit Herondale and Ty Blackthorn must set aside the bitterness that lingers between them and join forces on a perilous quest to save everything they cherish.

The first installment of the long-awaited concluding trilogy to the Shadowhunter Chronicles has all the nail-biting adventure, heart-pounding romance, and trademark humor that makes Cassandra Clare the reigning queen of YA romantasy.

“All good things come to an end, and the best way to end is while on a high.” – Alexandria Ingham, Parade

“[A] sweeping, high-stakes epic… Action, intrigue, humor, and romance buoy a backstory-dense plot that’s populated by keenly drawn, intersectionally diverse characters. Longtime series fans will be richly rewarded by this vibrant offering.” – Publishers Weekly

“Clare’s latest entry in the Shadowhunters universe delivers atmospheric, fast-paced fantasy blending faerie intrigue, dangerous magic, and emotionally charged questions about identity, loyalty, and destiny… a compelling, mythology-rich continuation recommended for collections serving established Shadowhunters fans.” – Jessica B., School Library Journal

Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi ★

fiction / science fiction / fantasy / horror / comedy.

Welcome to Richland, Ohio. Things aren’t great.

The town’s biggest employer is closing shop, and Richland’s on the brink. It’s where Mike Boyd, with his own set of problems, finds himself returning to after decades away.

He’s not planning to stay.

But Richland has other plans for Mike, his old friend Dave, and a newcomer Andi. They’re caught in a swirl of local troubles, private equity, executive theft… and something extremely weird involving Jeremy Keller’s prize cow.

Welcome to Richland. Leave your expectations behind. Bring a tarp.

“Trenchant, funny, grotesque, and improbably sweet.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“A laugh-out-loud funny monster story set in a small Midwestern town that will appeal to Scalzi’s many fans, who will gladly take the journey in a tale that hearkens back to the earliest sf monster stories as allegory for a changing world.” – Terrence Miltner, Booklist

“Scalzi builds a quietly devastating portrait of rural decline and populates it with a cast that feels genuinely real—ordinary people blindsided by the extraordinary. The horror creeps in slowly before going full throttle, and the author never loses his grip on the humor that keeps things from becoming relentlessly bleak. Think Twilight Zone by way of The Thing: unsettling, darkly funny, and impossible to put down.” – Jeff Ayers, firstCLUE

“[A] surprisingly cheerful tale of a suffering community fighting back against corporate predation. With Scalzi’s dry wit on full display throughout, readers will have a blast dropping into Richland to mash with its monsters.” – Publishers Weekly

Murder in Paris ’68: A True Story of Death and Glamour by Edward Chisholm

nonfiction / true crime / history.

An intimate, shocking true story from the Parisian demi-monde of the 1960s, Murder in Paris ’68 evokes an era when the high-life and the low-life went hand in hand. It was a time when the French New Wave of cinema was taking the world by storm, a time of glamour, sports cars, casinos, and night clubs—and at the heart of it all, the man of the moment, the enigmatic film star Alain Delon, dubbed “the most beautiful man in the world.”

With a shady past and a taste for bad company and high-living, Delon lived on the edge. But when a dead body turns up in the outskirts of Paris that turns out to be Stevan Markovic, Delon’s friend, “bodyguard,” and associate, questions begin to be asked. That Delon shot to stardom playing Tom Ripley with all those stylish and murderous associations does not go unnoticed. Is art imitating life or is life imitating art? What is Delon involved in? And who was Stevan Markovic?

In an exceptionally skillful and highly readable work of narrative nonfiction, Edward Chisholm uses his own detailed in-depth research to weave the reader into an intimate patchwork of events as they unfold, submersing us in 1960s Paris. And as we meet the characters—actresses, directors, petty criminals, state prosecutors, high-level gangsters, star-struck policemen, compromised politicians—we witness what became to be known as The Markovic Affair from the inside, as it spirals out of control and not only pulls down Alain Delon, but everyone within his orbit.

“This is a stylish, intelligent page-turner, as gripping as a thriller film script a shrewd move when real crime drama dominates TV, podcasts and publishing. Generations who have never heard of Stevan Markovic have a lurid mystery to enjoy; for all ages, it is a clever reworking of a great scandal.” – Muriel Zagha, The Times

“Chisholm spent many years researching the Markovic case, sorting fact from rumor; the result is one of the best works of crime nonfiction to be published in a long time. The author’s writing is superb, the deeply compelling mystery reads like a fictional thriller, and the late-1960s setting is carefully and evocatively rendered in this masterpiece of true crime.” – David Pitt, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“With the pacing and polish of a top-shelf crime novel, Chisholm’s account digs deep into Delon’s and Marković’s pasts, considering whether they were friends, co-criminals, or sometime lovers, while zooming out far enough to illustrate how the press both fanned the flames of the case and inhibited its investigation. The result is an uncommonly assured work of true crime from a newcomer to the genre.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

My Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments by Eric Dane

nonfiction / memoir / television / health.

In 2006, Eric Dane guest starred on Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan, a moment that would change his life. What was intended to be a one-time guest appearance, landed him a regular role on the Emmy nominated show and would launch his acting career, leading to other roles in hit series like The Last Ship and Euphoria.

Years later, Dane experienced another life-changing moment: being diagnosed with ALS. The sudden diagnosis caused him to slow down and reflect on the moments that had shaped him. In My Book of Days, Dane shares these reflections and invites readers to do the same with their lives.

Told through a series of “days” that each illuminate a defining experience or emotional truth, My Book of Days captures everything from the grind of his early years in Hollywood and the hard-won peace of sobriety to the profound clarity that came with his ALS diagnosis. With his newfound perspective that our days are all we truly have, Dane reflects on the beauty and weight of each one—on the joy, the pain, the lessons, and the grace found in simply being present. Dane also looks beyond his lifetime to the “future days” that would come after he was gone—days meant for his daughters to read, to remember, and to carry forward. He leaves behind not just a record of his life, but a lasting guide to cherishing time itself: a reminder that while most of us don’t think in days, we should, because each day is both a story and a gift.

Poignant, vulnerable and deeply human, My Book of Days is a profound meditation on the passing of time and what matters most when you’re looking at life through the lens of a terminal illness.

“Whether you were a Grey’s Anatomy fan, loved The Last Ship, or just followed his ALS journey, Dane’s memoir, My Book of Days, is a must… heartbreaking… Dane reminds us to cherish everything we hold dear.” – Alexandria Ingham, Parade

“Dane is ever compelling and candid, whether sharing his childhood bewilderment, blissful dependencies on drugs, determination to succeed, imposter-syndrome insecurity at the start of his career, devastation over his diagnosis, or his truly heartbreaking ‘lasts’: last concert, last conversations, last hugs.” – Kathleen McBroom, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] raw and moving posthumous account of addiction, fatherhood, fame, and mortality… Dane repeatedly returns to themes of resilience, regret, and the importance of living in the present, but his profane humor and willingness to portray himself unflatteringly keep the proceedings from becoming maudlin… a frequently harrowing but candid and tender reckoning with the choices that make up a life.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

My Pressures: The Bizarrely True Story of Andy Serkis by Andy Serkis

nonfiction / memoir / film.

If Gollum, Caesar and Ulysses Klaue could hear Andy Serkis tell his story, would they choose him to play them? This is the question at the heart of his long-awaited memoir.

Beginning in a childhood split between Ruislip and Baghdad, Andy Serkis takes us – and his characters – on a journey through the early influences that shaped him: acting mentors, early roles at a regional repertory theatre, a passion for mountaineering, a desire for film-making and the love story with Lorraine Ashbourne that became the foundation of his life. Then, the call arrives in 1999 that changes everything. Peter Jackson is preparing to make The Lord of the Rings and Andy is asked to audition for the voice of a certain animated character.

What follows is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes journey through the fantastical worlds Andy has helped shape – The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Black Panther, Star Wars and more – as he pioneered a new form of performance that would forever redefine the possibilities of cinema.

In this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality, and provides an answer to the question: what would Andy’s most iconic characters make of the man that brought them to life?

“Eminently entertaining. Not just for Gollumaniacs.” – Kirkus Reviews

“[A] humanizing portrait of a man who’s become famous for his nonhuman transformations.” – Publishers Weekly

The Nuremberg Women: The Untold Story of the Eight Women Who Brought the Nazis to Justice by Natalie Livingstone

nonfiction / history / biography.

In November 1945, the eyes of the world turned to Nuremberg. Humanity was seeking not only the truth about Nazi crimes but also a vision of what justice might look like in their aftermath. The trials are traditionally associated with a roll call of famous men, but they were only part of the story. Not only were there women involved in the trial in every role―as journalists, researchers, lawyers, interpreters, court reporters, witnesses, artists, and even defendants―but they were pivotal in the trial’s outcome.

The Nuremberg Women tells the story of eight women: a brilliant American lawyer, three pioneering journalists, two German, one British, an iconoclastic artist, a beautiful refugee aristocrat, a dauntless survivor of Auschwitz, and a young Russian translator.

From the major stories about justice, gender, and politics at a pivotal moment in the twentieth century to the smaller, daily intimate tales of the women’s affairs and bar-room disputes, The Nuremberg Women shows the most famous trial of the twentieth century in a new light―making a brave new case for it having been a more diverse and democratic exercise than has often been recognized.

They reveal a Nuremberg that is more intimate, human, and haphazard; one that was lower paid and less publicized. They demonstrate that the trial was remarkable not because it was perfect but because, against all odds, it happened. Thanks to these women and many others, justice was served.

“…this compelling history offers a fresh, urgent perspective on justice and memory…” – Anna Bonet, The i Paper

“…revelatory… One of Livingstone’s great strengths is the way she doesn’t duck her subjects’ moral complexity… Eighty years on, and with our faith in international order challenged by the day, how vital it feels to be reminded of the principles laid down at Nuremberg, and the women who contributed to that crucial process.” – Kathryn Hughes, The Times

“…meticulously researched but accessible… Livingstone reminds readers that the vital work of women can be found everywhere, even when a first glance seems to reveal only a masculine footprint.” – H K Curtiss, Booklist

The Queen: 100 Years, 100 Stories by Michelle Morgan

nonfiction / history / biography.

Crown jewels, coronations, and corgis: this is a heartwarming portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, as told through one hundred personal stories about the monarch, to celebrate the centenary of her birth.

The Queen is a warm and inviting biography of powerhouse monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, written by talented biographer Michelle Morgan. Structured around one hundred vignettes, the reader will be invited into an intimate telling of key moments of her long life.

Many of the stories relate to milestones, such as her wedding to Prince Philip, the coronation, the birth of her children along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her various jubilees. Interspersed with these, are fascinating stories that have been lost or forgotten over the past century. From immersive accounts of her working life, such as trips around the country and abroad to the people she met (including her neighbour for a time, Marilyn Monroe!), and the anecdotes they shared.

The book includes striking photographs of Elizabeth at different stages of life. From shy princess and World War II mechanic to Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith, Queen Elizabeth II was a stoic stalwart to the end. Told with insight and affection, this is the perfect tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

“Here, the incredible life of the late Queen Elizabeth II is told in 100 fascinating tales… deconstructs a big, enthralling life into vignettes that remind us not only of the extraordinary circumstances the Queen experienced but also the humanity that made her such an exceptional monarch.” – Town & Country

Stations by Louise Kennedy ★

fiction / historical fiction.

In 1980s Ireland, Róisín and Red bond as only two precocious and disaffected teenagers can. Soon he is privy to the secret source of her shame and anger: the father who’s abandoned her and her mother to their damp house and never-ending strife. But what does Róisín know about why Red avoids going home to his own posh parents and house—the house he soon flees forever?

When a Christmas visit to her father reveals the devastating truth of his new life in London, Róisín tracks down Red and moves into his Pimlico squat. But the path he is now on is a disturbing one, and gradually they drift apart. And yet the great, never-consummated passion of her youth remains a visitation upon the years that follow. Will Róisín ever stop longing for Red? Will she ever learn to let someone else love her—or learn to love herself?

Stations is a gorgeous, wrenching novel about the terrible—and sometimes redemptive—power with which the past hovers over the present.

“Kennedy’s tale of youthful longing, confusion and healing from heartbreak is a marvel.” – Mary Pols, People

“Louise Kennedy masterfully charts the complexities of youth and the pain of unrequited love in this compassionate and hopeful novel.” – Michael Welch, Chicago Review of Books

“Kennedy’s sophomore novel (after Trespasses) is a moving (but not maudlin) meditation on unrequited love, found family, and the irresistible pull of the people we can’t save but also can’t forget.” – Lindsay Harmon, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Stations, a new novel by the Irish writer Louise Kennedy, lays out a friendship that shapes a heart, and tears it… with Stations, she’s confirmed her status as one of those magical people who conjure up stories that compete with our own lives… Desire and melancholy pull so fiercely on opposite sides of this book that it’s hard to close it. At times the story is punctuated by extravagant grief. When Red ‘wept noiselessly into her hair until dawn,’ I had to put the book down and take a few big breaths… Late in Stations, Róisín texts a friend about a novel that depicts the sorrows of Irish emigration to England: ‘This book. I’m fkn destroyed.’ Exactly.” – Ron Charles, Ron Charles

The Shared Life of Egan and Lucian by Rose Smith ★

fiction.

The McCauleys have raised their twin sons on Shep’s Island, just off the coast of Maine: Egan wants to be a professional athlete, Lucian a painter, following in the footsteps of their complicated and distant mother. Growing up in the wake of a childhood accident that marked both boys—one physically, one emotionally—they are inseparable until Lucian quietly begins to wonder who he might be with no mirror image walking beside him.

On a trip abroad, Lucian meets Lea, who follows him home to idyllic Shep’s Island. When a shocking family secret comes to light, Lea flees back to the mainland—not with Lucian but with his twin, Egan, whose connection with Lea is immediate and undeniable.

The years will pass with Lea caught between the two brothers. Even when she decides to begin a life on Shep’s Island with one of them, fate will continue to bring these three into one another’s orbit. The island, with its shifting shoreline and harsh beauty, echoes the changing colors of their familial and romantic love. Rose Smith’s debut novel feels like an instant classic as it traces the McCauleys across the seasons and the decades, mapping the slow erosion and quiet resilience of people who have loved each other imperfectly and at great cost.

“A warm novel for those who need it. Reading it truly felt like sitting on the beach, wrapped in a blanket, as the summer fades away and the welcome chill of the changing season overtakes you. Rose Smith is a wonder.” – Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful

“[A] luminous debut… The author shines in her complex depictions of the characters’ relationships and their double lives… a heartrending exploration of passion and the various forms love can take.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“A debut novel that captures your heart. Identical twin brothers, Egan and Lucian, are so very much alike yet different. This book explores their closeness, their distance, their love of the same woman, and each of their relationships with their parents and friends. I became immersed in this story told over many decades.” – Barbara Wojcik, The Indie Next List

Totem: The Untold Story of Sculpture by Jo Baring

nonfiction / history / art / travel.

Why have we always made sculpture? What draws us to carve, cast, and mold forms from the materials around us? What do these objects say about the artists who create them and the societies they belong to?

In Totem, art historian and curator Jo Baring uncovers the untold story of sculpture, not through a traditional survey but by tracing how it has shaped and been shaped by human experience across cultures and millennia. From prehistoric artifacts like the Lion-man figure found in a German cave to an ancient Mayan pyramid that conjures a serpent made of shadows, to the icons of the Italian Renaissance and the radical innovations of the twentieth century, Baring reveals how sculpture expresses power, loss, identity, and the need to make meaning through form. Along the way, she introduces us to the artists who have expanded sculpture’s possibilities—including Barbara Hepworth, Constantin Brâncuși, Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, and Antony Gormley—and revisits familiar works with fresh eyes.

Featuring original illustrations by Julia Ashe—line drawings that work in concert with Baring’s lithe, intimate storytelling to bring us closer to this thoughtfully curated selection of sculptures—Totem is a powerful reflection on our need to make, to remember, and to understand ourselves through the things we shape.

“[A] rewarding dive into an age-old art form.” – Publishers Weekly

“[A] beautifully revelatory and moving appreciation of a universal, ever-changing, and endlessly resonant art form.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] welcoming introduction to the totem, sculpture – a medium which many know little about… Baring’s story of sculpture is gloriously international and looks beyond the traditional urban centres of art. Notably, every sculpture in the book can also be seen by anyone, either in a museum or gallery, or on public display in the open air. Her discussions of artworks, underpinned by a wealth of research, are punctuated by wonderfully evocative descriptions of the places where they can be found and the book’s travel-diary aesthetic is additionally evoked by its illustrations: not photographs but charming pencil sketches drawn specially by Julia Ashe. The book elicits an overwhelming urge to follow in Baring’s footsteps, to experience these objects in the flesh and find out more.” – Wilfrid Wright, The Public Statues and Sculpture Association

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