Staff Picks Booklist
Our booksellers recent staff reviews are listed below. Click a book to read the review.
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Kids and teens
Like Dewes's earlier novels, The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet, Rubicon is fantastically character-focused military sci-fi. Adriene is flawed but brave, anxious but giving her all. It's so rewarding to witness her developing relationships with her squad members, with the awkward but friendly chief systems engineer, with her Rubicon, and with herself. Readers who, like me, loved Rake and Cav (and all the supporting characters) will also love Adriene, Daroga, et al.
But for that very reason, this book left me feeling haunted. The raw trauma the characters endure is brightened by moments of healing, of friendship, and of empathy; brightened, but not overshadowed. This book is as much about grief as it is about loyalty. There is pain, disillusionment, and bitter regret. And the ending will stick with you.
— Kaley
The 23 very short stories in My Pen is the Wing of a Bird were composed as part of the Write Afghanistan project for Untold, a writing program for women in areas where there has been upheaval. The stories highlight the way oppression and war inflict lasting scars on families, especially women and children. They also illustrate the way, in the face of these circumstances, these women exhibit resilience and determination. Most of the writing is plain and feels autobiographical; there is subtext and depth beneath the simple words. The opening quote from one of the writers, which provides the title of the collection, says it all: “My pen is the wing of a bird; it will tell you those thoughts we are not allowed to think, those dreams we are not allowed to dream.”
— Mamie
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is an adventurous Regency romance populated by swashbuckling smugglers as well as prickly high society. It is also somewhat of a naturalist's book; Gareth's explorations out on the Marsh taught me a surprising amount about the great diving beetle. There are stolen fortunes, dangerous missions under cover of night, a lady scandalously wearing trousers, and murders to boot. But the real heart of the book lies in healing trauma and finding love (in partners as well as family). Gareth and Joss are shaped by their experiences, by their loved ones, and by their relationship to one another, and the end of the book finds them better situated for happiness than they've ever been before.
— Kaley
This is an important and gorgeous piece of writing that should not be missed. This is a book that will be getting lots of attention and should win a major award.
— Sarah G
Several of us at QRB (including Nancy who probably hand-sold more copies than anyone in the world!) loved Marjorie Hudson’s collection of short stories, Accidental Birds of the Carolinas. If you haven’t read it, please do so while waiting for her new novel, Indigo Field, which features some of the characters in those remarkable stories. Marjorie knows how to weave beautiful words into compelling action. You won’t want to put this one down until you turn the final page!
— Mamie
A prickly English folklorist travels to a small Scandinavian town to study the local faeries -- and also be driven mad by her irritating but handsome Irish colleague (who may or may not be human himself). This adventurous book is populated by socially awkward academics, changelings, brownies who can bake, ice kings, and a lovable cast of villagers. If you struggle to make small talk and should infinitely prefer a book (preferably a dissertation on obscure fairy-stories), you'll get on well with Emily Wilde.
— Kaley
2023 winner of the Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah is an intimate look at several generations of Ever Geimausaddle’s family. Told in an episodic format, each of the twelve chapters is narrated by a different person. What emerges from the stories are struggles and triumphs, in some ways singular to his family and in some ways universal to all of us. Hokeah’s own mixed heritage—Cherokee, Kiowa, and Mexican—is incorporated into that of the characters in the book. I look forward to more from this intriguing writer.
— Mamie
British author Katherine May knows exactly what I need when I need it. I read her book, Wintering, during the hardest days of the pandemic. She wrote of a time in her life, pre-pandemic, when she felt hopeless, but her words resonated with my feelings of despair during the isolation of 2020. Her newest book, Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age, is just as timely. Though very personal, she addresses the universality of our shock at the fallout from the pandemic and how we can recover some of our contentment and joy. The book is beautifully written, and there are many lines that will linger with me.
— Mamie
A rustic plant hunter mistakes a pampered runaway bride for a world-renowned botanist and they travel the Cornish moors together. It's an objectively ridiculous premise. But Lowell's writing breathes these two characters to life and forces you to root for them against all odds. It's filled with heart and warmth and so much beautiful character growth (and even more botany.) This is the perfect Spring romance read.
— Emma
Do not start reading Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton if you have a lot to do. Halfway through, you will not be able to put it down until you turn the last page, at which time you will be shocked and awed. Part social commentary, part thriller, this book got all up in my head. I’ll think about it for a long, long time.
— Mamie
I loved the first installment of the Knockemout series and could not wait to get my hands on the second. Lucy Score knows how to bring the chemistry to the forefront! Her characters have depth to them and their backstories are explained so well. I loved the good guy/bad girl storyline.
— Christy
From the first paragraph I was enamored with this sardonic, witty, ridiculous premise and book. A secret specialized school where the students either graduate as well-trained murderers or in a body bag, told in detailed journal entries and meta book-within-a-book asides. It's such a fun time, and I had trouble putting it down for paltry things like food and sleep. It's been a long while since I've fallen in love with the way a book was written. There was not one single word that was unnecessary or out of place. If you like piña coladas and murder, this is the perfect book for you (read the author bio!).
— Emma
Bod Owens is a most unusual child. Oh, when you see him for the first time, he doesn’t really stand out from other kids except in one specific – almost peculiar- respect: He is the only living resident of a local graveyard.
How did this come to be? Well, you’re going to have to read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK to find out. Who knows? You might find yourself thoroughly enjoying this delightful tale from Neil Gaiman!
— Bud
Exploring her new home, Coraline discovers a mysterious locked door - which she is determined to get opened. She is rewarded (?) for her efforts when the door finally opens to reveal a hidden passageway. Curious, Coraline naturally goes through.
The adventures and people that she encounters along the way make for a Neil Gaiman tale unlike any other. CORALINE is definitely an all ages book – your experience reading it however may vary! Exploring her new home, Coraline discovers a mysterious locked door - which she is determined to get opened. She is rewarded (?) for her efforts when the door finally opens to reveal a hidden passageway. Curious, Coraline naturally goes through. The adventures and people that she encounters along the way make for a Neil Gaiman tale unlike any other.
CORALINE is definitely an all ages book – your experience reading it however may vary!
— Bud
A Japanese novel with cats and books. What else could you possibly need to know?
— Amber
A darkly funny twist on fairy tales, where classic characters are reimagined as a modern support group. It addresses trauma and societal expectations of women in an unexpected way. Wholly unique and difficult to put down.
— Amber
Aubrey Gordon addresses 20 beliefs regarding fat people that are categorically false, debunking them one by one with facts and receipts. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to combat anti-fatness in an intersectional way, regardless of size.
— Amber
Rebecca Makkai won me over as a reader with her book, The Great Believers, a searing look at the AIDS epidemic and the generation that dealt with it. Her newest book, I Have Some Questions for You, is about a murder which took place in the nineties at a prep school in New Hampshire, and one woman’s quest to discover the truth about it. As the suspects emerged, I was kept guessing until the very end. Makkai knows the heart of a teenager, and the characters are vivid and complex. Comparisons to the story of the recently released Adnan Syed are relevant.
— Mamie
Imagine if "The Great Gatsby" met the messy, troubling world of Southern, depression-era politics. Narrated by the poetic--if slightly naive--political reporter, Jack Burden, "All the King's Men" follows the rise and fall of politician-of-the-people, Willie Stark. The novel covers both the corruptive influence of power and the irreversible, incredible nature of time, and its lyrical, thought-provoking prose and symbolism has made it a favorite of mine since highschool.
— Nicole
Sadeqa Johnson pulls the reader into the characters’ dreams for their futures from the start. Eleanor’s family has scrimped and saved to get her to Howard, but while she pursues her degree, the colorism of the societies on campus wears her down. Ruby is fighting to be the one Black student in her high school cohort to earn a scholarship to college when her mother leaves her with relatives to raise. These two young Black women on the cusp of academic and social success each fall in love and then find their lives upended by unexpected pregnancies in this novel set in the early Fifties.
The young men they love provided an escape - but the consequences of that love could easily fall on the women alone. While the women don’t know each other, their stories weave together as they navigate the expectations of those around them and the threat to their futures, as well as the decisions they make and then live with. Expertly researched and fast-paced, this historical novel grabs the reader and doesn't let go to the very end.
— Ginger
1862 – 38 Dakota were hanged
2019 – A killer has returned intent on continuing a reign of retaliatory terror begun in the pages of My Heart Is A Chainsaw
Returning home, Jade Daniels – the survivor of the first book- discovers to her horror that she’s not the only one who’s come back.
Don’t Fear The Reaper – the second part of the “Indian Lake trilogy” – is an attention getter of a book.
You might want to leave the lights on for this one.
You were warned.
— Bud
Writing a staff pick for this book is redundant seeing as the cover sells itself. Have you ever seen a more beautiful coffee table book? As an Asheville/Blue Ridge Mountains native, I'm in love with the nostalgia and warmth on every page. This is a perfect gift book for anyone who longs for the mountains or just needs some good decoration.
— Emma
The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz takes place in a work camp in Siberia during WWII. The tundra provides a hostile environment for Lena and her family, who were transported there from their home in Poland. Alternating between her life before and after the camp and her time there, the novel provides a deep look into her life, loves, and end-of-life struggle to come to terms with the past.
— Mamie
One benefit of working in a bookstore are the book chats with customers. Here’s a novel I was told I simply had to read, and boy am I glad I listened.Set in 1950s rural Ireland, electricity is finally coming to a remote community. The story centers around Christy, an old man come to town, working for the electric project and seeking forgiveness from a local woman he wronged so many years ago. Christy befriends 17-year-old Noe Crowe, the floundering grandson of an elderly couple unswayed by the promised wonders of electric power. Christy and Noe’s friendship is central to the story as each guides the other and pursues love, old and new.This story has a quiet wit, is oh-so-poetic, and is simply beautiful. It is about knowing when you are standing in the midst of happiness, recognizing it, feeling it, not missing it. It is a book about everyday life and love, forgiveness, and finding your religion. Savor this novel and then insist your friends read it too.— Peggy
I've read almost everything Tracy Kidder has written. I was inspired, as always, by his forthcoming book, Rough Sleepers. For five years, Kidder followed Jim O'Connell, a doctor who has been providing healthcare to the homeless in Boston for several decades. Like Solito, Rough Sleepers brings tough statistics to vivid life.
— Sarah
This novel will have you hiding away from friends and family, just so you can read one more quick chapter.
All The Broken Places moves effortlessly between present-day London and a past full of secrets, guilt, and complicity. The story captivates from page one, and pulls the reader along at an earnest pace. Part mystery, part historical fiction — you will not be able to put this one down.
And while this is technically a follow-up to Boyne’s bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it is not necessary to read the books in order. If this is your first novel by John Boyne, it will surely not be your last.
— Peggy
The best haunted house story is entrenched in family regrets, trauma, memories, and gleefully corrupted childhood monoliths. Hendrix does all of this with heart-stopping fear, love and loss, and so, so many puppets. Think Annabeth meets Chucky with a sprinkle of every campy 80s horror movie you loved as a kid. Whimsical horror, dark comedy and gruesomely visceral details. There is no better haunted house book.
— Emma
I think this is going to be huge. THE SHARDS, rolled out initially on Easton’s blog, is a heartening return to form. Easton fans will see callbacks to LUNA PARK, maybe IMPERIAL BEDROOMS. Immensely heavy in mood, absolutely grinding with tension the entire way through, so horrendous I actually had to back away a couple times, this book is also multiple trigger warning territory, and trepedacious readers are hereby warned off. Heed me now. The writing is great – his threnodies to Los Angeles make me wish he’d just write a travel essay book and get it off his chest – and his very genuine knowledge of cults and killers makes for a disturbingly real experience. Bret plays his teenage self in this book, and the inseparability of his fictional and real selves here adds a bizarre edge. Staggeringly attention-getting, kudos.
— Matt
Ashley Herring Blake is the master of sapphic romances and terrifyingly tangible messy family dynamics. A thorny interior designer with major mommy issues falls in love with a sunshiny carpenter with major abandonment issues and together they renovate a (maybe) haunted inn. If you read Blake's previous romance Delilah Green Doesn't Care, you'll absolutely adore this enemies-to-lovers heart-wrenching romance. And if you haven't, read both immediately. Thank me later.
- Emma
Everyone believes Geeta is a ‘self-made’ widow, though the truth is her husband abandoned her. When another member of her microloan group needs their portion of the loan covered thanks to her abusive and alcoholic husband, Geeta’s not inclined to help hapless Farah solve her husband problem beyond a one-time loan - until Geeta overhears said husband bragging that Geeta’s money will continue to cover his bar tab going forward. Geeta turns to the true story of the Bandit Queen for inspiration - a low-caste woman who despite monstrous abuse and trauma became first a bandit leader and eventually a politician. Would the Bandit Queen murder a terrible man like Farah’s husband?
Of course, Farah’s husband isn’t the only dangerous man in the village, Farah isn’t the only wife looking for assistance in becoming a widow, and events rapidly escalate further out of Geeta’s control.
Though the novel is often funny, a dark current of gendered violence underpins the story. There are good men and happy marriages in the novel, but even the good ones either don’t see the problems or don’t speak up about them. Ultimately, Geeta can only rely on herself and the other women - at least as far as she can trust them.
— Ginger
This book is chock-full of great ideas on how to make your home (and life!) cozy, content, and happy. Wiking covers every layer of our lives and offers easy to implement and low cost suggestions that everyone can use. A fabulous gift that you should start by giving to yourself.
— Peggy
Kathy Acker’s short, brilliant life is given a proper and reverent treatment here. She broke every rule possible; if you’re a reader today, her influence is felt invisibly now, in all kinds of media. Read this and see how. One of the many interesting things about this book is the insight into the publishing world: truly, it’s a grinding battlefield. She knew everyone and was loved by most, and the story of her early & tragic death cancer death is extended, revelatory. An excellently researched, oddly timely book.
— Matt
Enemies to lovers meets blind date meets fake dating in this swoony romance by Chloe Liese. Bea is an autistic erotic artist and Jamie is a pediatrician with anxiety and at least one change of (perfectly ironed) clothes on him at all times. The two could not be worse for each other, so convincing everyone they're dating should be a lot harder than it is. Swoony, funny, and sweet, it's safe to say this is one of my favorite romances of 2022.
— tee
There is literally nothing about this book that I would change. When an orc with chronic back pain decides to retire from adventuring to open a coffee shop, so begins the next chapter of her life, which we are fortunate enough to bear witness to. The characters are quirky and loveable and imperfect, the conflict is just enough to keep the story moving, and the baked goods sound so good I found my mouth watering more than once. This cozy, feel-good fantasy belongs on shelves alongside The House in the Cerulean Sea, Psalm for the Wild Built, and Every Heart a Doorway. Perfect is a strong word, but it may just be the right one.
— tee
In 1956, Jack Kerouac spent the majority of that summer working as a fire lookout atop Desolation Peak in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Despite earlier albeit limited brushes with literary success, Kerouac still felt that he had yet to achieve the literary success that he sought. The solitude of that time allowed Kerouac to focus inward and re-dedicate himself to a new style of writing immortalized in 1957’s On The Road. Desolation Peak gives readers a glimpse into Kerouac’s life and thoughts while unknowingly on the cusp of literary superstardom.
-- Bud
Michael Gaspeny from Greensboro's novel in verse, The Tyranny of Questions, remains one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read. His new novel, A Postcard from the Delta, is the story of Johnny Spink, a young football star in his hometown of Spinkville, Arkansas. While dialing through the radio searching for a football game, he happens on a blues station. His newfound love of the blues and his mentor's daughter force him to confront racial disparities in the south and the privileges he enjoys as a young white male.
— Mamie
Nancy Olson was a big fan of Simon Van Booy, whose visits to the store are always “an occasion”! We were first introduced to Simon through his beautiful short story collection, Love Begins in Winter, which will satisfy readers’ desire for something that is both literary and upbeat. His new book is The Presence of Absence, the story of Max Little, a writer who is terminally ill. He struggles with how and where to tell his beloved wife, Hadley, the news as he reflects on his life.
— Mamie
The depth and breadth of loss suffered by the narrator and townspeople in We Are the Light by Matthew Quick took me to my knees. The devastation I felt was matched only by the hope that rose from the characters' ineffable strength to overcome the horrific events they endured. Their sheer strength of will, forgiveness, and support of each other in the aftermath still leaves me breathless, awestruck by their capacity to overcome life's darkest events.
The author skillfully reveals the story through letters from the narrator to his therapist, and leads the reader to confront and viscerally experience the crushing wounds we inflict upon each other. He does not leave us bereft, and ultimately allows us to see the possibility of surviving the devastation. A profound and moving read that will leave you wounded by the depths of horrors we wreak upon each other, and uplifted by our boundless capacity to rise above them.
— Belinda
Mr. McCarthy's done it again! This brilliant new novel follows Bobby Western as he gets swallowed up in the mystery of an airplane crash and its missing passenger. Meanwhile, there's another mystery for the reader to unravel in the form of hallucinatory interludes from the perspective of Bobby's sister. These two disparate sections combine to create a novel unlike almost anything Cormac McCarthy has ever written!
P.S. Look for the companion novel, Stella Maris, set to be released this December!
— Todd
When Rory Morris moves back to her hometown to help her pregnant and recently single twin sister, the last thing she expects is to be reacquainted with high school hottie Ian, and the second to last thing she expects is a werewolf attack. When both of those happen in the same evening, Rory's world is flipped upside down.
This is unlike any werewolf book I've ever read. Part romance, part comedy, part horror story, I couldn't get enough. Whether you're a fan of creature stories or you're just in the mood for some monstrous social commentary, this is the book for you!
— tee
When I heard Alexis Henderson was coming out with a gory vampire book based on Elizabeth Bathory, I was in. What I didn't expect was this beautifully nuanced gothic story of a girl clawing her way out of the horrors into which she was born. Marion is strong-willed and vibrant and she makes the perfect heroine-turned-final girl. Come for the bloody mystery and courtly intrigue, stay for the hard-won character development and hypnotic romance.
— tee
Alan Moore is one of my favorite English authors out there. I have consistently found myself enjoying his work time and time again. To those unfamiliar with his name – his writing almost certainly will strike a chord of recognition.
A word to the wise: Moore is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea nor does he try to be. He is very much off the beaten path to the point that many view him as a literary trailblazer. That approach has garnered Moore numerous awards and literary honors despite his efforts to just be himself.
An anthology of tales as only Moore could tell them, Illuminations comes highly recommended. To those willing to take a chance – give this one a try.
— Bud
George Bernard Shaw is credited with saying, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz will help you zap this illusion.
Buy this book, read it, do what it tells you to do and you will see results.
People will:
- Listen to you
- Read your words
- Understand your message
- Value your brief, complete, informative style
- Clamor for your communiques
Read this book - you, and everyone you talk to, write to, present to, will benefit.
— Belinda
A gothic fairy tale with crumbling manors, knights in barely-used armor, dragons that eat human minds, and a runaway princess who has long-since stopped living off of her diet of fairy tales. A haunting fantasy about rebellion, loss, and how far we'll go for love.
— Emma
There is a wide spectrum of Jane Austen fan fiction out there - some of it wonderful, some of it...less so. Technically speaking, Jane and the Year Without a Summer is among the best.
During the summer of 1816, when Europe had fallen under a volcanic winter, we join the Misses Austen on a (real) visit to the spa at Cheltenham. Jane's physician has recommended taking the waters there to restore her health (which the reader knows, sadly, will not happen). While staying at Mrs. Potter's boarding house (another true-to-life detail), they become embroiled in a murder mystery that threatens all their lives.
While the plot of the story is fictional, it is based in large part on real people and real events from Jane Austen's life. Barron does a fantastic job capturing the language and manners of the period, all the while relating a fun whodunit that keeps one on one's toes.
Though this is the 14th entry in this series, Jane and the Year Without a Summer works perfectly as a standalone. And now I'm off to read #1!
— Kaley
I am not usually drawn to science fiction, but Lost In Time by A.G. Riddle pulled me in by page 1 - the characters are compelling and the story is mind-bending. I found myself at times - which times?!! past, present, future? - re-reading passages to see how that could possibly happen only to remind my startled self that this is science fiction!
But it seems so real. So plausible. So scientifically reasonable!
I was thoroughly taken with the focused, rational brilliance of the characters as they tried against impossible odds to will their own survival in their extraordinary circumstances. The author skillfully guided me to lose myself in the past, present and future alongside these smart, capable and, at times, enigmatic traveling companions.
An absorbing, compelling read with whip-smart characters - I highly recommend that you lose yourself in Lost InTime!
— Belinda
Let me preface this by saying if this didn't have Stephen King's name on it, I never would have guessed it was written by him, so don't write this off thinking it'll be too scary. Oh, and the dog not only lives but thrives, so don't worry about that either. Alright, now into the review:
I loved it. Five stars. Ten stars. Twenty stars. This has just about everything you could want: a heartwarming tale of a a boy taking care of his neighbor's dog, a quest into a fantasy world, brutal gladiator-type games, skeletons covered in forcefields of electricity, an inexplicable blight, and just a smidge of Eldritch horror. I loved every single character with my whole heart and I needed to know what was going to happen next even in the midst of the coziest scenes. I stayed up until two in the morning finishing it and I just sat and hugged it to my chest when I was done. I wanted to flip right back to page one and start all over. Read this book or we can't be friends (only slightly joking).
— tee
Riotous! A book so weird, so vast in intent that they could barely squeeze any of it onto the book flap. I loved his previous Bubblegum; this is more focused, funnier. It really is a sprawling plot, you will see, and hosted by the author as himself – he often pops in to interrogate the action and comment cruelly on his own failings. I see ghosts and intimations of many great authors here, I don’t know if he meant to rouse Philip Roth in his arch Jewishness and hilarious dialogue, but…points scored, regardless. A parrot named Gogol and Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction are characters. A sinkhole swallows a big chunk of Chicago itself. How, further, can I convince you?
— Matt
If you're looking for a fantastic multi-generational Vietnamese ghost story that will give you the absolute weirdest dreams, look no further! This really was such an experience, with so many moving parts and fragments of stories that don't come together until the very end. The descriptions are gorgeous, the characters are bewildering and the story itself is unnerving at best. Give this a try if you're adventurous (and patient).
— Emma
The late Miles Davis, in these press interviews over his career, really pulled no punches whatsoever. He’d just trash his peers casually, outright diss the musicians he was literally touring with at the time and in general say whatever he felt like to the press (see also: the late Lou Reed). It’s endlessly amusing, because, well, no one does that. Now, Miles was into self-promotion for SURE, but that’s not how it’s done. He forever saw himself, in a torrent of hubris, as the pinnacle of Jazz. When you’re coming from a place like that, the laughs pour as easily as the tears! A revealing and deeply humorous read.
— Matt
What happens when you take one feminist lesbian in the midst of writing her dissertation on why the marriage industry is destroying our country, one marriage-obsessed best friend in need of a Maid of Honor, and a destination wedding at a (cursed?) California resort? A hectic ride full of manipulation, superstition, and attempted murder. I had so much fun!
— tee
When Meddy goes on a blind date arranged by her mother in a mild catfishing situation, the worst she thinks could happen is she gets a free meal from a creepy guy. One thing leads to another, and now his body is in her aunt's freezer on a private island where her family is hosting the biggest wedding of their career. The chaos that ensues is nothing short of delightful, the characters are well developed and loveable, and the conclusion is satisfying. Finlay Donovan fans: your next great read is here!
— tee
I Am From Here is a stunning debut cookbook from 2019 James Beard Foundation Best Chef (South)—Vishwesh Bhatt. Recipes are organized by their star ingredient (think: rice, okra, tomatoes, catfish) and are a blend of the foods from Bhatt's home in Oxford, Miss., and the recipes passed down in his Indian family. While some recipes fall on one end of the spectrum or the other, still more are unique marriages of the two—like the dish he created with Raleigh chef and restaurant owner Cheetie Kumar: corn korma, an elevated creamed corn with a flavor profile reminiscent of chicken korma.
If you pick up cookbooks to read the stories behind the recipes just as much as for the recipes themselves, I Am From Here: Stories and Recipes from a Southern Chef is not to be missed.
— Rebecca
Rare and pure American genius, that’s why! In this pocket-size book, Caryn Rose lays out the terms: brilliance without plan or guile, constant creativity and reinvention, hard pivots away from many bad choices, long-term friendship and good choices thereof, outspokenness in the face of various repressors, willingness to retreat and regroup as needed, dedication to family, decency among humans, visible love, persistence, humanity above war. Above all, rock music as real communication, for the last 60 years the great equalizer. Ms. Rose says all this better than me, so read it.
— Matt
The tea stain vanished.
From a favorite pair of white slacks.
Impossible but true, but there it isn't! -- thanks to Laundry Love: Finding Joy In a Common Chore by Patric Richardson.
I am smitten with this gem of a tiny tome that gently guided me (& sometimes not so gently) to adopt laundry methods that actually work. It saved me time, money, frustration and clothing, and turned routine drudge work into a delightful task of anticipation - what stain will I vanquish today?
Informative, entertaining and sobering (even with a spray bottle of vodka for freshening clothes), Laundry Love sorts through laundry dos and don'ts, and doles out doable advice that will fatten your wallet, gift you more time, help you save the environment and see your laundry hamper in a brighter, cleaner light.
— Belinda
Noted scholar, Pekka Hamalainen eschews traditional explanations popularized by “manifest destiny/colonialism theories” in this retelling of American history from the perspective of Indigenous peoples.
Contrary to popular belief, “America” was a land that was home to myriad numbers of people long before the arrival of Europeans. Much of this history has been overlooked in favor of Euro-centric viewpoints. Hamalainen sets out to correct that.
Indigenous Continent restores Native peoples to their rightful place at the very fulcrum of American history.
— Bud
This is a rich, puppetry-entrenched, family drama about three sisters who grew up with wildly different childhoods and mothers, but all share the same famous, puppeteering father. Think contemporary King Lear. I loved the complexities each sister had with their individual father-daughter relationships, and how that translated into their adult lives. This is a great read, threaded with fairytales and grounded in sisterhood.
— Emma
Joanna Quinn’s debut novel is intensely pleasing historical fiction written with great imagination, gorgeous imagery, daring espionage and lively characters. The novel is broken into five acts (complete with an encore), beginning in 1919 and ending at the close of WWII. The story is immediately charged when a poet comes to stay at Chilcombe, an old English estate in rural Dorset. The adults of the story are only mildly interested in the manor’s three children who have created a magical outdoor theatre using the skeleton of a washed up whale. As the children grow up, theatre connects them as each is morphed by the war. This tour de force will leave you feeling misty and musing. — Peggy
City Witchery is an accessible and intuitive guide to making and finding magic as a city dweller, traveler, or someone living in a small apartment.
In this gorgeous book, author of Light Magic for Dark Times and The Magical Writing Grimoire, Lisa Marie Basile, shows how you can maintain a practical, potent, and poetic practice when nature, time,
Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller from nationally bestselling author Sarah Gailey, perfect for fans of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO's true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
When an advice columnist’s picture-perfect life implodes, she opts to go rogue in this hilarious, heartwarming romance from the author of Meet Me in Paradise.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying comes your next obsession. You'll never feel the same about family again.
A New York Times Notable Book of 2022!
The New York Times Bestseller and Good Morning America Book Club Pick!
"I LOVED this book! ...Funny, breathtaking, hopeful, and dreamy.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “claustrophobic spine-tingler” (People) One by One returns with an unputdownable mystery following a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.
From a New York Times bestselling and Hugo award-winning author comes a modern masterwork of science fiction, introducing a captain, his crew, and a detective as they unravel a horrifying solar system wide conspiracy that begins with a single missing girl.
A New Yorker Best Book of 2022
A New York Times Best True Crime of 2022
A Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of 2022
A premier historian penetrates the fog of corruption and cover-up still surrounding the murder of a Stanford University founder to establish who did it, how, and why.
A humorous and rousing set of literal and figurative sojourns as well as a mission statement about comprehending, protecting, and truly experiencing the outdoors, fueled by three journeys undertaken by actor, humorist, and New York Times bestselling author Nick Offerman
REESE’S BOOK CLUB DECEMBER PICK • NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de' Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court.
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • Sam and Sadie—two college friends, often in love, but never lovers—become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.
From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.
For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook n
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From decorated Green Beret sniper, UFC headliner, and all around badass, Tim Kennedy, a rollicking, inspirational memoir offering lessons in how to embrace failure and weather storms, in order to unlock the strongest version of yourself.
Tim Kennedy has a problem; he only feels alive right before he’s about to die.
Jane Eyre, a penniless orphan, is engaged as governess at Thornfield Hall by the mysterious Mr Rochester. Her integrity and independence are tested to the limit as their love for each other grows, and the secrets of Mr Rochester's past are revealed.
A nature therapy session for the soul--encounter the benevolence of the living world through 12 essays on the Earth-healing powers of self-compassion and empathy.
When healing is needed at the deepest level, nature will always call us back home--not only to the oak woods or water-filled coves, but to the homes within ourselves.
For fans of Mexican Gothic, from three-time Bram Stoker Award–winning author Gwendolyn Kiste comes a novel inspired by the untold stories of forgotten women in classic literature—from Lucy Westnera, a victim of Stoker’s Dracula, and Bertha Mason, Mr.
A talented Hollywood starlet and a reclusive A-lister enter into a fake relationship . . . and discover that their feelings might be more than a PR stunt in this sexy debut for fans of Beach Read and The Unhoneymooners.
New York Times Bestseller • Read With Jenna Book Club Pick as seen on Today • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiography • Winner of the American Library Association Alex Award
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An epic adventure about a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam” (Elle), from the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
New York Times Bestseller
“Smart and funny and all sorts of raunchy in the best way.” — San Francisco Chronicle
"Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and told with the air of suspense that few writers can handle, Wastelands is a story I wish I had written." —From the Foreword by John Grisham
"Sarai Walker has done it again. With The Cherry Robbers she upends the Gothic ghost story with a fiery feminist zeal." —Maria Semple
The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.
Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without muc
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Plant-based eating doesn't have to be complicated!
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections comes a groundbreaking examination of why this is happening—and how to get our attention back.
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time travel, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK · A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S CHOICE · REVIEWED ON THE FRONT COVER · INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
“Zhang’s blend of history and magical realism will appeal to fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer as well as Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement.” —Booklist (starred review)
The decades-long love story of a NASA commander and the leader of the Astronaut Wives Club
Far Side of the Moon is the untold, fully authorized story of the lives of Frank and Susan Borman. One was a famous astronaut—an instrumental part of the Apollo space program—but the other was just as much a warrior.
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