Ashleigh

Books: 
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Destroy the Day (Defy the Night #3) By Brigid Kemmerer Cover Image
$20.99
ISBN: 9781547613236
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Bloomsbury YA - January 23rd, 2024

I’m simultaneously so sad this series is over and so happy with how it ended. What started as a Robin Hood-esque adventure that spoke so deeply to our 2020 days, has ended with appropriate shock, heartbreak, triumph, and satisfaction. Kemmerer really tormented these characters through political, personal, romantic, familial, and geopolitical challenges. Their arcs have kept me on the edge of my seat, and while surprised with the end (OMG Harristan...), it feels (devastatingly) correct. I love the authenticity and complexity these characters have, and I will miss them until my next re-read. 10/10 recommendation.


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Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect: A Novel By Benjamin Stevenson Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780063279070
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Mariner Books - January 30th, 2024

Another hit by this funny and creative author and his leading man Ernie. Stuck on a train in the middle of Australia, authors start dying. Can a group of crime writers solve the mystery? A delight to read or listen to on Libro.fm.


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The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels: A Novel By Janice Hallett Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781668023396
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Atria Books - January 23rd, 2024

Allow a disclaimer: I don't read mystery/thrillers. Maybe I watched too many scary movies as a tween, maybe I know my dog is a terrible guard dog and would hide behind me. Whatever--not my genre. So when I tell you that I read this book in 24 hours, please know that I exclusively reserve that honor for epic fantasy releases, and Janice Hallett has 100% converted me. Initially put off by the entire book reading as though in text, email, article, research, etc; I quickly realized that the flow is so much fun, and the twists feel like they're real time. I loved the morally grey characters, never knowing who is really whom or whom to trust. I can't picture a better mystery thriller to sink into over the long dark months ahead. Cheers!


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Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) By Rebecca Yarros Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9781649374172
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Entangled: Red Tower Books - November 7th, 2023

Well, that was again worth all the hype. Breakneck pacing, sassy dragons, myriad twists and turns, terrific romance, and--perhaps my favorite part--actual conversations between all the characters. It feels like the layers of drama are so realistic, from geopolitical life-or-death to learning how to communicate with your romantic partner in your 20s. The Bechdel Test would be proud; the women here are badass and genuinely speak to and relate to each other. We have brilliant (and awful) (and fantastic) new characters, shocking twists, blistering delayed gratification, and--AGAIN--that ending. Yikes. Bring it on, over and over and over.


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Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most By Adam Alter Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781982182960
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Simon & Schuster - May 16th, 2023

This book should be a gift for anyone in your life who feels lost, stuck in a rut, frustrated, etc. I read it at time when I was at a variety of crossroads - personal, professional, educational, etc - and it made me feel validated, supported, and very much in good and varied company. Well researched with fascinating anecdotes (did we know that Jeff Bezos used to spend the holidays packing boxes for 20 hours a day when Amazon was fledgling? Or that Google was the 22nd search engine to launch? Or how Alex Honnold paused for YEARS before free solo climbing El Capitan?!), Alter guides and reassures the reader that we are all on the right track, and that going our own speed is exactly the right trajectory. Listening to his Aussie accent also makes me feel better, which may actually just be a psychosomatic response but I'll take it.


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What the River Knows: A Novel (Secrets of the Nile #1) By Isabel Ibañez Cover Image
$20.00
ISBN: 9781250803375
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Wednesday Books - October 31st, 2023

Absolutely riveting! What The River Knows cast a lyrical web of adventure, suspense, betrayal, mystery, and romance over me. I didn't want it to end, and OH MY GOD the end! You can feel Isabel's passion, fascination, and research on every page as she takes us across oceans from 1880s Argentina to Cairo, down the Nile, deep into an ancient pharaoh's tomb, and right into the middle of an archaeological conspiracy. And that doesn't even cover the tastiest of slow burn romances--yum! I can't wait to return to Inez's story in the sequel. 


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Our Divine Mischief By Hanna Howard Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780310156222
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Blink - October 17th, 2023

What a lovely story! If you love Scottish folklore, history, and landscape, this is the cozy historical fantasy you need. When Aila LacInis finds a mysterious puppy instead of her predicted apprenticeship during her coming-of-age ritual, she finds herself on a collision course with the Gods, political turmoil, adventure, and finding herself. With the help of Hew, another who "failed" his Goddess Trial, and Orail, the mysterious talking dog, Aila must find her way to the answers she so desperately desires. Evocatively written and impossible to put down, this is ideal for fans of Rebecca Ross, Adrienne Young, Rachel Griffin, and Jamie Pacton.


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The Unmaking of June Farrow: A Novel By Adrienne Young Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9780593598672
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Delacorte Press - October 17th, 2023

I think this just might be Adrienne Young's best work yet. If you loved The Time Traveler's Wife, (but don't want to ugly cry); Outlander (but don't want to commit to thousands of pages); or romance-mystery (romanstery?) stories that cross the bounds of time, this is for you. Young writes spectacular ambience, and the mountains of North Carolina serve beautifully as the setting for this novel. The Farrow women are compelling, imperfect, and able to cross time, but at a cost. Brittany Pressley delivers an entrancing vocal performance; she easily captures the soft-spoken but steel-spined Farrow women and the townspeople surrounding them. This is the perfect book to accompany your cuppa tea, warm blanket, and porch rocking chair.


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After the Forest By Kell Woods Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781250852489
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Tor Books - October 3rd, 2023

One of my 2023 favorites! This stunning debut tells the story of Greta and Hans years after their legendary kidnapping by the gingerbread house witch. It beautifully grapples with PTSD, discovering truths amongst myths and secrets, allowing for growth in spite of trauma, and lots of found family. It is dark, ambient, moody, and gloriously written. I adore books with setting-as-character, and After the Forest is perfection with its 1650s Bavarian mountain village setting. Perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten, Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, and Shelley Parker-Chan.


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He Who Drowned the World: A Novel (The Radiant Emperor Duology #2) By Shelley Parker-Chan Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781250621825
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Tor Books - August 22nd, 2023

SPC has written a masterclass in storytelling, character development, making grief tangible, and creating authentically devastating circumstances for anyone who trespasses these pages. The 75%, Oh $h!t mark is revelatory, and the turbulence these characters face is physical, emotional, psychological, brutal. What, at the end of the day, are desires worth? In this case, everything.


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Bring Me Your Midnight By Rachel Griffin Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781728256153
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Sourcebooks Fire - August 1st, 2023

Just when I think I can't love Rachel Griffin's writing any more, she does something like this. *This* is a soul-deep exploration of self, duty, historical prejudice, contemporary responsibility, wild first love, climate impact, and learning to choose yourself. There's so much packed into this marvelous whirlwind that the beauty of Griffin's writing will sometimes catch you off guard. It stops your mad flight to turn the page and learn what happens; and then the magic of her sentence construction crashes over you. With each book, Griffin challenges herself and wow do we as her loyal readers benefit from her journey.


Sword Catcher By Cassandra Clare Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780525619994
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Del Rey - October 10th, 2023

There are three things you can expect from a Cassie Clare novel: impressive world-building; complex characters weaving together their vastly difference lives; and that its size will render it a useful doorstop once you’ve read it! Sword Catcher does not disappoint in any of these three criteria. Based on Clare’s ancestry and the experience of European Jews, we meet the Ashkar--a displaced people forcibly kept separate from the city of Castellano while depended upon for counsel and healing by the royals and the wealthy. Our main character here is Lin, a young female physician desperate to learn forbidden magic to save lives. Upon the Hill, the castle of Marivent and home to the Twelve Houses, ruled by House Aurelian; troubled Prince Conor and his loyal Sword Catcher/bodyguard/body double, Kel. For those who enjoy political scheming, bold and intelligent women, brooding and troubled princes, antiheroes, and slow-burn everything, this is certainly a fall release to anxiously await!


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The Shadow Cabinet: A Novel (The HMRC Trilogy #2) By Juno Dawson Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780143137153
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Penguin Books - June 20th, 2023

Holy cliff-hangers, Batman! Juno Dawson is delightfully wicked when it comes to massive last lines and epic mic drops. This whole book is a wild, fast-paced, "what the heck?!" twisting, turning ride and I totally loved it. Fans of HMRC #1 will not be disappointed, though this one is much darker and grittier. Whereas #1 focused on the power, for good and evil, of women, #2 focuses on the origin story and redemption of "evil," as well as the visceral hatred and fear men possess of powerful women.


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The Grimoire of Grave Fates By Hanna Alkaf (Created by), Margaret Owen (Created by) Cover Image
By Hanna Alkaf (Created by), Margaret Owen (Created by)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780593427453
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Delacorte Press - June 6th, 2023

Imagine a magical school where everyone is welcome; everyone's diverse voice is heard and valued; everyone's history is respected; and everyone hates the same vindictive, small-minded, aged professor... Who would you look to for his murder? Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary is about to disembark from its current port (it lands in cities around the world to represent its diverse student body) when Professor Septimus Dropwort's body is discovered by the guardian gargoyles. Told from the perspective of myriad students, each written by a different YA author, the mystery must be solved for the school to continue its journey. With contributing authors such as Darcie Littlebadger, Hafsah Faizal, Kwame Mbalia, Victoria Lee, and more, this is the representation we've been waiting for in a school for the magically gifted. Excellent LGBTQIA+ rep, disability visibility, mental health rep, fighting back against prejudice and bigotry--it has everything for the YA fantasy reader in your life.


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Painted Devils (Little Thieves #2) By Margaret Owen Cover Image
$20.99
ISBN: 9781250831163
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - May 16th, 2023

Margaret Owen is perfection. Despite the cliffhanger (will never recover), this book has it all--incredible sass, major shade thrown at a certain container ship blocking a certain shipping channel, Backstreet Boys AND Janet Jackson references, and only slightly less than enough Ragne. OH! AND--it takes on virginity as a social construct, normalizes ace relationships, has found family and biological family redemption, trans/non-binary rep, a diverse cast, and OH SAINTS THE CHARACTER ARCS. When it comes close to the miscommunication trope, it USES COMMUNICATION TO FIX IT. I love it. I love Margaret Owen. I love Vanja. I love Emeric. I love this series.


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Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age By Katherine May Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9780593329993
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Riverhead Books - February 28th, 2023

As with Wintering, May's new book, Enchantment, belongs on your shelf next to your books on hygge, frilutsliv, rest as resistance, and getting untamed. She returns to us the magic of the world around us, literally, as Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are the leading themes of each section. Thoughtfully composed, precisely written, intently researched, and focusing on the simple pleasures, May truly gives us what we yearn for, whether we know it or not. I feel infinitely calmer, more centered, and less alone when I read her words.


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The Bandit Queens: A Novel By Parini Shroff Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780593498972
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Ballantine Books - January 9th, 2024

What a conundrum this book created for me! On the one hand, it is a brutally frank call-out of domestic abuse, sexual assault, the Indian caste system, and the role of women in society. On the other hand, it is laugh-out-loud funny, full of twists, brimming with sisterhood and girl power, and a thoroughly murderous romp. It is a thoughtful, darkly hilarious, compelling read. The narration by Soneela Nankani was absolutely superb; I was in tears laughing during the final stand-off as she captured many characters, high tension, and absolute absurdity.


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I Have Some Questions for You: A Novel By Rebecca Makkai Cover Image
$19.00
ISBN: 9780593490167
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Penguin Books - February 20th, 2024

A scorching, compelling read, this is a calling out of violence against women: how it's reported, poorly prosecuted, lightly punished, sensationalized, ignored, held against us, and so deeply ingrained in our culture. A New England prep school is the perfect setting for this collision of podcasts, old secrets hidden deep, racism, sexism, growing pains, and the lenses we have, shed, and change as we grow. Julia Whelan's narration is, as always, phenomenal. I could not stop listening--this is a 10/10 for me.


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Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide By Rupert Holmes Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781451648225
Availability: Coming soon - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!
Published: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster - April 30th, 2024

What an absolutely marvelous, murderous rompus! This was so witty, sinister, and yet absurdly uplifting, in a "they had it coming" sort of way. Extra points for the concerned looks sent my way while I read it on a plane...


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Immortality: A Love Story (The Anatomy Duology #2) By Dana Schwartz Cover Image
$14.00
ISBN: 9781250343192
Availability: Coming soon - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!
Published: Wednesday Books - May 7th, 2024

I didn't think it would be possible to top the gothic intrigue, romance, and adventures of Hazel Sinnett after Anatomy. Luckily, I was incorrect, as Immortality raises the stakes and exceeds expectations. Hazel's risks are greater, heart burns stronger, and suspense is higher as we enter the royal court of George III, Princess Charlotte, and the mysterious Companions to the Death society. Brava indeed!


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Hell Bent: A Novel (Ninth House Series #2) By Leigh Bardugo Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250859440
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Flatiron Books - January 9th, 2024

Fans of Alex, Dawes, Turner and Darlington--get ready. This is an emotional, intense, I-need-Dawes's-comfort-food ride, but it will be worth it! We get more Mercy and Tripp, several ill-advised journeys to hell, vengeance by Alex, and loads more monsters to keep the ride going. Better buckle up!


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In the Time of Our History: A Novel of Riveting and Evocative Fiction By Susanne Pari Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781496739261
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: A John Scognamiglio Book - January 3rd, 2023

A poignant exploration of family, migration, geopolitical events, cultural revolution, and deep community ties--for better and for worse. Pari crafts nuanced characters woven together and torn apart by the same events; the journeys they each travel are momentous. Each person will sear themselves into your consciousness and you will be grateful. This is a must-read.


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Hester: A Novel By Laurie Lico Albanese Cover Image
$19.00
ISBN: 9781250825162
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - October 3rd, 2023

A beautiful and intricately woven story about a young woman's journey across oceans, through society's vicious and shifting mores, love, heartbreak, true friendship, and finding her way home. It gives us a vivid glimpse into life in Salem in the early 1800s as the town strides forward into the future while fleeing the wretched ghosts and legacies of its past. Splendidly written, vividly descriptive, and deftly winding together both micro and macro issues of the time, it shows us women's place in society, the Abolitionist movement, and the booming trade that made Salem thrive. I listened on Libro.FM and Saskia Maarleveld's mastery of accents, tension, and yearning was first-class.


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The Vermilion Emporium By Jamie Pacton Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781682636251
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Peachtree Teen - December 5th, 2023

This story is damn near perfect for me. Two weary souls, both broken and sharpened by sadness and loss, meet outside a mysterious shop. Together, they follow threads of starlight from a whimsical store (hello portal stories! I love you); into the libraries of a castle; across oceans; and through time. They gently fall--or climb--in love; and I am a puddle. All of the stars, especially if you love The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, grumpy queer girls, big dreaming boys, any book by Margaret Owen, fairy tales, found family, daring rescues, and timeless love stories.


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Rust in the Root By Justina Ireland Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780063038233
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Balzer + Bray - September 12th, 2023

What a mesmerizing, wildly creative, and fantastically original adventure! It feels a little N.K. Jemisin, a little H.G. Parry, a little steampunk, quite magic, a lot of nature vs. the machine, and a compelling twist on major historical trends and events. I loved every second of it. Jordan Cobb's narration was exceptional; she had a lot of characters to imbue, and it was a marvelous interpretation. I couldn't stop listening.


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All of Our Demise (All of Us Villains #2) By Amanda Foody, C. L. Herman Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9781250789365
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Tor Teen - August 29th, 2023

A masterful, fast-paced, high-stakes conclusion to one of my favorite duologies--bravo! It was as brutal as promised, and its pacing left me breathless. I love the complicated relationships: with so many characters and plot twists, the nuances could have been lost, but Amanda and C.L. deftly wove each person together and into the interactions with others. The complexities of the not-quite-friendships and alliances and romances are perfect for fans who want to dive in and feel the heat of each battle, the gutting of every loss, and the fierce triumphs hard-earned alongside these competitors. There is so much to ponder with this book--it's one to revisit many times over.


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Spells for Lost Things By Jenna Evans Welch Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781534448889
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - August 29th, 2023

This is the most charming girl-meets-boy-and-breaks-family-curse meet-cute I've read in ages. I loved the interwoven family histories with contemporary Salem, Willow, and Mason. The supporting cast was delightful--the French cousin, the scheming great-aunts, the foster family, and the moms. Oh the moms--each struggling so hard against their own demons, and to do the right thing for Willow and Mason. There was so much depth and richness to these characters; and the sweet, slow-burn romance between W & M was perfect. I love this book for all seasons, not just the witching ones!


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The Fortunes of Jaded Women: A Novel By Carolyn Huynh Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9781982188740
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Atria Books - August 1st, 2023

Such a remarkable, complex debut--I really enjoyed my time with these jaded women! This is a book for any reader who understands that families are complicated, nuanced, and not always willing to stick to the assigned (or assumed) narrative. It's a bittersweet wander through a multi-generational curse, tumultuous reunions, and overall redemption. A really excellent journey for fans of family drama and fortune.


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The Strange Inheritance of Leah Fern By Rita Zoey Chin Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781612199863
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Melville House - October 4th, 2022

This is one of the most introspective, emotional, uncanny, stop-and-read-that-again books I've read in a long time. It is ultimately a redemptive, bittersweet, and vivid story of discovering who you are and how you got there. While some books feel like a hug, journeying with Leah feels like holding hands as you stumble through the dark, and then sharing the radiant, revitalizing triumph of surviving together as you come into the light. I will recommend it to everyone I know.


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I'm the Girl By Courtney Summers Cover Image
$14.00
ISBN: 9781250323545
Availability: Coming soon - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!
Published: Wednesday Books - April 16th, 2024

A searing, gritty, propulsive story about power: those with it, those without it, and everyone who wants it. The system is rotten; the protectors are corrupt; the dreamers and the hopefuls are victims; and the righteous fury is visceral. If you're not uncomfortable (and livid), you will be after reading this intrepid story.


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The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy By Megan Bannen Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780316394215
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Orbit - August 23rd, 2022

This felt like a warped, alternative, demi-god and zombie-filled Western and I LOVED it. Please give me so much more of rugged, grumpy, cinnamon-roll Hart; fierce, passionate, brilliant Mercy; the endearing, smart-ass supporting cast; and this strange, misty world. I laughed, I wept, I reeled. Perfect for fans of Vivian Shaw, V E Schwab, Hannah Whitten, and Casey McQuiston.


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Belladonna By Adalyn Grace Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9780316153621
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - July 25th, 2023

Dark, intense, witty, and deliciously romantic, Death and his young protégé make for excellent banter, adventure, and slow-burn desire. This is a creative, spellbinding story of life, death, wealth, greed, and one young woman's desire to both belong and be free. Kristin Atheron's narration, on Libro.fm, is excellent--Death is sardonic, charming, and lonely; Signa is defiant but vulnerable; and the supporting cast are distinct and well-created. The tension was well-developed and the sparks between Signa and Death are utterly bewitching. I can't wait to see what Fate has in store...


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The Many Daughters of Afong Moy: A Novel By Jamie Ford Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781982158224
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Atria Books - May 2nd, 2023

This remarkable book is a Best of 2022 for me. Achingly poignant and conceptually fascinating, it weaves together the lives of a woman, Afong Moy, and her descendants over 200 years. Their experiences are passed down epigenetically, or as such powerful interactions as to alter DNA; and we see both the whispers of similarities and direct warping of time and space to connect one woman to another. It is compelling, devastating, haunting, and ultimately a hopeful story about the power of inheriting trauma, but also the capacity to survive, thrive, and love.


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This Vicious Grace: A Novel (The Last Finestra #1) By Emily Thiede Cover Image
$13.00
ISBN: 9781250847355
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Wednesday Books - December 5th, 2023

A very quick listen on Libro.FM, I think I started and finished in 24 hours! I really enjoyed the main characters, Alessa and Dante: forced together by extraordinary circumstances, they are imperfect, trying their best, and both experience profound arcs from start-to-finish. The supporting cast comes together really well; and the pacing is solid, full of twists and turns. The vocal performances are excellent, and I can't wait for the next installment. A definite summer read for fans of Victoria Aveyard, Margaret Owen, and Leigh Bardugo.


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The Ballad of Perilous Graves By Alex Jennings Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780759557208
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Redhook - January 17th, 2023

Reading this book is like being swept into an epic song, and it is extraordinary! Magic is music and music is magic; and Jennings’ writing is absolutely superb. This is one of the most imaginative and enchanting books I’ve read in ages; I love the tone, the language, the delicacy in handling Hurricane Katrina trauma, and the utterly fantastic world-building in both New Orleans and Nola. This is an exquisite, astonishing debut and I adored it!


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Home Field Advantage By Dahlia Adler Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250765840
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Wednesday Books - June 7th, 2022

This is exactly the fun, thoughtful, determined contemporary queer romance we need. The stakes are so high for the characters, and the representation of diverse, queer people in a small-minded small town is on point. Ideal for fans of I Kissed Shara Wheeler mixed with Friday Night Lights.


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Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky #2) By Rebecca Roanhorse Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781534437746
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: S&S/Saga Press - March 7th, 2023

Just as brilliant and well-crafted as Black Sun, Fevered Star picks up in a world coming to terms with its violent history, bigotry, casteism, and corruption. The stakes are higher than ever for the stability of the Meridian: the plotters are more conniving and ruthless, and those drawn into their whirlpool are fighting their damnedest to swim amidst the sharks. Thrilling, wrenching, and completely captivating.


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I Kissed Shara Wheeler: A Novel By Casey McQuiston Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250244451
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Wednesday Books - May 3rd, 2022

What an absolute blast! No one writes snark, banter, tension, and escapades like Casey McQuiston. A total homage to '00s teen movies (if they were super queer and fabulous) and I loved every freaking moment. A bit Saved, a bit Mean Girls, and a bit 10 Things I Hate About You, and totally Casey.


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A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention: Discovering the Beauty of My ADHD Mind - A Memoir By Rebecca Schiller, Joyce Maynard (Foreword by) Cover Image
By Rebecca Schiller, Joyce Maynard (Foreword by)
$16.95
ISBN: 9781615199426
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: The Experiment - March 28th, 2023

This unflinching and visceral portrayal of life before, during, and after a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis is a poignant journey to understand and appreciate the brains and experiences we have. Woven into the neurodiverse experience is the story of returning to the land, of smallholding with flora and fauna, and of connecting to our truest selves, in spite of what we are taught we should be or do or want. It is brutal and beautiful; expansive and focused; historical and time-luminous.


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Kaikeyi: A Novel By Vaishnavi Patel Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780759557307
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Redhook - March 7th, 2023

A marvelous and mesmerizing reimagining of Kaikeyi, a mythological queen in the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. With vibrant prose and meticulous care, Patel has woven a new story for a powerful, fascinating, and complicated woman. Ideal for fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe, Katherine Arden’s The Bear & The Nightingale, Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, and Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf.


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Lakelore By Anna-Marie McLemore Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781250866561
Availability: Coming soon - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!
Published: Square Fish - May 28th, 2024

A poetic, lush, and sincere exploration of gender, identity and neurodiversity that only this author can create. Evocative imagery and dazzling magical realism dance with honest, sometimes painful self-exploration. I love every book Anna-Marie writes; they are a treasure!


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Sistersong By Lucy Holland Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316320894
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Redhook - May 3rd, 2022

Lyrical and evocative, Sistersong is an absolute "LOVE" for me. The powerful story of three siblings standing at a flashpoint in history, as both Saxons and Christianity stampede towards a Pagan realm whose visceral connection to the land is slowly dying. I love the swirling mists and ancient magic; the empowered Trans rep; the complex character relationships that weave and tear and evolve. It's a truly lovely debut.


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Only a Monster By Vanessa Len Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780063024656
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: HarperTeen - January 24th, 2023

I love the quagmire of moral greyness that this books swirls around itself. What truly makes a monster or a hero? Monsters are real: they have families, jobs, date nights... and they steal duration from human lives to embellish their own through time travel. But heroes--dashing, charming and surprisingly vicious--commit monstrous acts in the name of justice. The concept and execution are fascinating; the pace is excellent; and the bittersweet conclusion leaves me wanting more.


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The Ivory Key (The Ivory Key Duology) By Akshaya Raman Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780358701538
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Clarion Books - October 17th, 2023

Compelling and enchantingly rendered, this Indian-inspired fantasy is a splendid adventure. Four estranged siblings are dragged back together on an epic quest for the Ivory Key, said to reveal long-hidden quarries of magic across the land. The problem? Each sibling wants it for their own purpose, as do various shadowy figures along the way. I loved the found families, the complexity of each character, and the twists along the way; what a page-turner! I can't wait to see what happens next.


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The Storyteller By Kathryn Williams Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780063049406
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: HarperTeen - August 15th, 2023

A sweet and exciting self-discovery story that combines the tender years of the early aughts with the intrigue and tragedy of the early 1900s Romanov family. In 2007, Jess is trying to live her truth but feels held back by family and friends. She discovers her great-great-aunt Ana's journals from the early 1900s and is astonished to find that her eccentric aunt might have been Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. Jess finds a Russian translator in awkward, nerdy and delightful Evan; and they embark on a summer of exploration. Though Ana's diary entries and working together, they learn that truth can be many things, but is rarely as it seems. I listened via Libro.FM and the narration was splendid! Hearing the Russian names and places was fascinating and added great ambiance to the story.


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Vespertine By Margaret Rogerson Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781534477124
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - November 1st, 2022

Artemisia is part of a cloister who tends to the dead so their souls don’t rise to possess others. When her convent is attacked, she becomes partially possessed by one of the most powerful ancient spirits but is able to use its strength to protect her people. Soon, she becomes a myth, then a legend, then a saint to the frightened townsfolk around her…all while battling major childhood trauma and keeping her possession-adjacent occupant from fully taking over and, well, consuming everyone living. I loved the world-building and the snark; the complex women; the dynamic relationships that evolve beautifully; and the action-packed pace. The sequel can’t come soon enough.


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The Starless Crown (Moonfall #1) By James Rollins Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9781250766717
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Tor Books - January 10th, 2023

A captivating page-turner full of impressive world-building, layered characters, and existential questions. It pits religious extremism against science; morally grey heroes against the innocence of youth; and a mismatched squad trying to stop the end of their world. I couldn’t put it down!


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Starling By Isabel Strychacz Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781534481114
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - November 8th, 2022

An imaginative, sweet, and exciting debut, the kind of story you'd wish for on a shooting star. I love small towns with exciting happenings, and Starling sure fits that bill. A small, closed-minded town unaware of the frenetic energy building beneath them. An eccentric family whose patriarch disappeared inside a closet several months prior. Two sisters trying to survive high school and relationships without him. And all of that before a boy-shaped star falls from the sky, igniting suspicion and violence from the town. All four of the main characters experience profound transformations and the romance is slow-burning and sweet.


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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois: An Oprah's Book Club Pick By Honoree Fanonne Jeffers Cover Image
$20.00
ISBN: 9780062942951
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Harper Perennial - May 10th, 2022

I've heard this book referred to as "The next great American novel," and I am here for that title. As poetic as it is epic, this is a must-read for anyone interested in history, family, food, social justice, legacy, generational trauma, healing, and community. It is at times heart-breaking and laugh out loud funny; it weaves ancestors and many generations of descendants together in a marvelous web. The characters, from 1619 to the present day, are reflective of so many kinds of human--the kind and the cruel; the conniving and the earnest; the traumatized and the healing; the loving and the loved. This book is a gift to our world.


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All of Us Villains By Amanda Foody, C. L. Herman Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781250789273
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Tor Teen - July 26th, 2022

This is Hunger Games played by Slytherin House for the Mortal Cup. No one is safe and everyone is a villain...or are they? Creative and varied magic? Yes. Clever world-building? Yes. Sensationalist expose causing trouble? Yes. Seven families vying for power and sending their kids to do the dirty work? Heck yes. Complex characters, both main and supporting cast? Absolutely. Authors gleefully willing and ready to torment their readers and break some hearts? Alas, yes. Full of twists, turns, enemies to allies to friends to lovers to enemies to dead, this dynamic and fast-paced dystopic fantasy is sure to delight fans of Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare, and Jay Kristoff.


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Empire of the Vampire By Jay Kristoff, Bon Orthwick (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jay Kristoff, Bon Orthwick (Illustrator)
$22.00
ISBN: 9781250246516
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - April 25th, 2023

The dark, seductive story of the last vampire hunter as he awaits his execution, this book has raised my standards for epic fantasy. Kristoff has swagger--his writing is so crisp and easy to read that you don’t realize he’s drawn you in only to break your heart until it’s far too late. Captivating and elegant, fast-paced and relentlessly brutal, I devoured it and welcomed the pain. If soul-crushing and hope-dashing but laugh-aloud snarky with compelling and vibrant prose is your thing, Empire of the Vampire is a treasure. (I know it has an egregiously hideous vampire-bodice-ripper cover that belongs in a grocery store novel section; but the book and writing itself are masterful.)


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Crossbones (Kingdom of Bones #1) By Kimberly Vale Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9781990259135
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Wattpad Books - August 30th, 2022

A whimsical adventure on the high seas where ambitious young pirate captains strive to prove themselves to their crews, each other, and themselves as they vie for the pirate throne. If you're a fan of political machinations, ship-to-ship battles, flourishing romance, and a Survivor-esque competition on a dangerous island, look no further.


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The Reading List: A Novel By Sara Nisha Adams Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063025295
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - August 9th, 2022

A sweet and poignant book illuminating our need to connect with others, especially when we don't see it, and how books and libraries have the power to unite us. The growth of the characters and their relationships with one another are profound and tender; the list of books is delightful. I somehow did not expect the ending, and it left me weeping with its thoughtfulness. A true gem of a story, and just what we need in this time of stress.


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Defy the Night By Brigid Kemmerer Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781547610471
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Bloomsbury YA - March 7th, 2023

Count me as the newest member of the Brigid Kemmerer fan club. I would cancel plans to get back to these pages if needed. The premise of the story is simple enough: a mysterious illness is sweeping the kingdom, and the cure is unfairly distributed between wealthy citizens and the rest of the populace. Two friends, Tessa and Wes, risk their lives nightly to Robin Hood the cure into the hands of their poor neighbors. In the castle, King Harriston and his brother, the King's Justice, Prince Corrick try to balance the expectation of their consul members with a looming rebellion against systemic inequality. For me, it's the outstanding character arcs and THAT TWIST that make it juicy and delicious and compelling. The main characters are all deeply wounded by traumatic parental deaths; they cope in drastic ways, whether by cruelty, coldness, or trying to heal the kingdom's ills. The use of morally-grey protagonists and the complexity of politics vs. idealism are excellent. Wes and Tessa are delightful; Corrick and Tessa are dynamite. The slow-burn relationships, as they all learning to truly see and trust each other, are splendid. I am hooked and cannot wait for the next two installments.


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The Charm Offensive: A Novel By Alison Cochrun Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781982170714
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Atria Books - September 7th, 2021

Fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, get ready: Charlie and Dev are the new couple in town and you will adore them. Even as someone who doesn't tend towards rom-coms, I truly loved this book. The plot--a reality TV show romance between the Bachelor (or Prince Charming, in this case) and his producer--is fun and precious. What really makes this book incredible to me is two-fold. First--the sensitivity and respect used towards mental health challenges. They are a characteristic of many people in the book, and a genuine component of the main love story. Both Dev and Charlie are able to love someone because of all their pieces and parts, not in spite of them; but they're still learning that they themselves deserve such love in return. Second is Charlie's exploration of his own sexual orientation. The guidance given to him by loved ones is tender and insightful. I think this book will help a lot of people (myself included) learn more if they are curious, both about themselves and the myriad identities we can all possess. This is definitely a 2021 highlight for me, and brings the rom-com genre to a new level.


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Forestborn By Elayne Audrey Becker Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781250752178
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Tor Teen - August 30th, 2022

Absolutely exquisite! I want to vanish deep into the forest to read this book and never return...at least until the sequel is here! It is a stellar fantasy debut with powerful character arcs forged on a desperate quest; wholly original magic; enthralling world building; and abundant plot twists. Becker does many things very well, but two stand out to me: 1. Create a vivid and impressive character of the land and nature in which her human and magical beings exist. 2. Tackle serious social justice issues, confronting bigotry, man-made borders, violence, and environmental destruction within high fantasy. Fans of Tamora Pierce, The Books of Pellinor, the Abhorsen series and the Chronicles of Narnia will adore this quest to help a friend that may just save the entire world.


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Wildwood Whispers By Willa Reece Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316591775
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Redhook - February 1st, 2022

Wisewomen. Midwives. Healers. Warriors. Sisters. These women are the center of Willa Reece’s debut novel, Wildwood Whispers. This book is an homage to nature, the family you find, and the connections you inexplicably know in your bones. It is beautifully rendered and cleverly plotted; it delights in the splendor of a quiet Appalachian mountain town, and it celebrates the magic that comes from finding your village and honoring our Earth. Wildwood Whispers speaks to the power of those who will unite against destruction and who will find deliverance when they believe in powers greater than themselves. Fans of Jules Watson and Barbara Kingsolver will be enchanted with this story.


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The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together By Heather McGhee Cover Image
$20.00
ISBN: 9780525509585
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: One World - February 8th, 2022

This may be one of the most important, well-researched, take-it-to-family-dinner and discuss books I've read. It is profoundly personal--McGhee takes the reader on her own journey from student to young adult and scholar facing more and less diverse communities and circumstances. It is also deeply and broadly researched to demonstrate that inequality and segregation in housing, education, health care, public works, and communities results in loss and detriment for all. I can already see how this book has changed my perspective on my town, workplaces, social groups, and view on my world. I find the pace of the book and the research enjoyable, although deeply unsettling; and I appreciate that McGhee veers towards actionable steps in her poignant conclusion.


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The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms #1) By Tasha Suri Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780316538510
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Orbit - June 8th, 2021

The Jasmine Throne is fire and water: smoldering, intense, and voracious. It is a story about the resilience of women--against religious fanaticism, political maneuvering, poverty, misogyny, and generational trauma. Pryia and Malini, respectively a temple child and imprisoned princess, contrive a tentative alliance from which a thirst for one another grows. They fill a need for each other, amidst the plotting and chaos, but they also respect the mutual ambition of the other. Each woman is a weapon, forged in the fire of family violence and expectation, and honed to create a path entirely her own. Together, they will burn the empire down and from the rain of its ashes, rise. A tremendous new release that starts an epic queer, feminist, India-inspired trilogy.


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The Nature of Witches By Rachel Griffin Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781728251400
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Sourcebooks Fire - May 3rd, 2022

This was such a delight to read - poetic, evocative, and tender. In a world where there are witches amongst humans (called shaders), their power is used to stabilize the atmosphere. Every witch is connected to a season when their powers are most profound, but Clara is an Everwitch, bound equally to all seasons. The abilities and traits of these seasonal beings are beautifully described; such an homage to nature, time, and change. Living with the trauma of her power’s instability, Clara is isolated and exhausted. With a new tutor, she faces mounting pressure but also begins to understand her capabilities and necessity in a time when Earth is roiling with climate change consequences and increasingly erratic weather patterns. Simultaneously a story about finding and trusting yourself, it’s also an environmental warning, a sweet romance, and a lyrical journey.


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The Mirror Season By Anna-Marie McLemore Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781250821171
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Square Fish - March 8th, 2022

A modern, queer, pastry-filled retelling of “The Snow Queen” that handles sexual assault, coping with trauma, and recovering yourself with absolute delicacy and honesty. It's a must-read. Anna-Marie’s work to reimagine fairy tales with queer, Latinx representation is genuinely splendid. In this latest marvel, they weave together environmental commentary with flora turning to mirrors; intersperse recovering painful memories with gentle waves of pastry magic; explore and condemn white, heteronormative privilege; challenge the stigmas against male victims; and illuminate robust female relationships. All of this in their distinctively luscious writing creates an absolute powerhouse novel.


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For the Wolf (The Wilderwood #1) By Hannah Whitten Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780316592789
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: Orbit - June 1st, 2021

Deliciously dark and creepy, this gothic reimagining of "Little Red Riding Hood" is an ethereal delight. It's tremendously imaginative and lusciously descriptive--while I can't say I'd like to get lost in the Wilderwood (unless, of course, Eammon is there), I absolutely get swept there on every page. There's a good balance of macabre and humor, and the plot is evenly paced with well-chosen perspective shifts that build vibrant tension. It's perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, or anyone who seeks a fresh, feminist take on old fairy tales.


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Son of the Storm (The Nameless Republic #1) By Suyi Davies Okungbowa Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316428941
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Orbit - May 11th, 2021

Powerful character arcs, wildly imaginative, and some of the strongest world-building I've read. This is a complex, West African-inspired epic fantasy that spares no detail, or life, and brings the reader into a rich tapestry of politics, plotting, rebellion, and the search for truth and freedom. Excellent; Sci-Fi/fantasy readers will be thrilled!


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The Gilded Ones By Namina Forna Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781984848710
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Ember - January 11th, 2022

Utterly incredible. I'm in awe of Namina Forna's imagination and capacity to write so many characters, human, immortal, and creature, who resonate and connect so intensely. Queer-friendly, strong character diversity, intense female empowerment, and a bit of romance amidst a lot of magic, fantasy and overthrowing the patriarchy - fantastic. The Alaki women are phenomenal and I have the utmost respect for the depths of sisterhood forged between these women. They are brutalized and outcast from their born-families and ultimately finding refuge and power with their found-sisters. The ending, with its excellent twists and reveals, sets up well for the series, while also giving an immensely satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Nnedi Okorafor, Tamora Pierce, Alison Croggon, and Akwaeke Emezi.


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We Begin at the End By Chris Whitaker Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250759689
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Holt Paperbacks - April 12th, 2022

Reading this book is like driving on the twisted mountainous roads that connect its settings; readers of Delia Owens, Tana French, and William Kent Krueger will love it. The storytelling is masterful – the layers and connections are beautifully and gradually woven towards the stunning, bittersweet conclusion. We like to believe we know people, especially those whom we love the most; but we likely do not, cannot. Chris Whitaker reveals this delicately and respectfully, but honestly. People are both simple and complicated; life is darkness and light; we can exist in secrets, truths, and the space between. He creates a world and characters who will linger with you long after you’ve finished the book, examining each one in turn, realizing how many sides to each one existed simultaneously. It is a marvelous, haunting book.


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Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times By Katherine May Cover Image
$25.00
ISBN: 9780593189481
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Riverhead Books - November 10th, 2020

Wintering is going on my “Great Unlearn” curriculum – the pieces that help me deconstruct the rules, restrictions, assumptions, expectations, and guidelines that I (we?) absorb from childhood, when we become too wild on our own and “need” to be structured. “Wintering” is about preparing for and experiencing the literal season, as illustrated by Nordic cultures and animals; as well as the metaphoric – illness, death, depression, change. These are the times we desperately want to avoid, but inevitably cannot. May guides us through myriad winters, reflecting on her experiences and those of friends and family: what happened, how they cope, what they learn. She draws comparisons and lessons from our animal brethren and surrounding Earthly cycles to show that wintering – resting, hibernating, retreating – is a necessary lifeforce of its own, and one we don’t consider or appreciate nearly enough. It is a quiet declaration that allowing ourselves to step back and weave our own way is not only OK, but desperately necessary for our individual and collective good. Read this in your coziest nook; listen while you’re working your sourdough; keep it close, as you’ll want to come back to it again and again.


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By the Book: A Novel of Prose and Cons By Amanda Sellet Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9780358668084
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Clarion Books - November 8th, 2022

In Amanda Sellet’s YA debut, Mary Porter-Malcolm is the new girl at the public school. She is kind and awkward, a bookworm from a literary family who speaks like it’s 1800 and relates better to book characters than her IRL classmates. At first, I found her a bit too uncomfortable, until I realized she reminded me of myself at 15…but I digress. After a disastrous first day, Mary overhears three girls – Lydia, Arden, and Terry - discussing the school’s romantic prospects. When she warns that Terry’s apparent crush is “a Vronsky” and to be avoided, the other girls are confused and fascinated. They integrate Mary into their group and develop The Scoundrel Survival Guide based on literature’s most infamous rogues, cads, and Lotharios. The girls are supportive, fun, and fiercely loyal; in return for her wisdom, they plot Mary’s ‘debut season,’ full of shopping and sleep-overs, and culminating with the Winter Formal. Things become more complicated when “The Vronsky” (aka Alex Ritter) befriends Mary and she finds herself falling for him. Is it possible that Mary cast him as a villain without understanding him, thus giving poor advice to her new friends? And does that make Mary more of an Emma than she realized? Just what would Jane Austen do? I adore Mary; the trio made me laugh and wish I could high-five them, especially Lydia; the Porter-Malcolm family is complicated, but provide Greek Choir-like insight, assistance, and humor; and the romances in the book are sweet, but ultimately take a second seat to the bonds of friendship and trusting yourself


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Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel By Emily M. Danforth, Sara Lautman (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Emily M. Danforth, Sara Lautman (Illustrator)
$20.00
ISBN: 9780062942869
Availability: Usually ships to store in 4-6 days.
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - October 5th, 2021

For fans of Kate Morton, Sarah Waters, and creepy houses, “Plain Bad Heroines” spices up gothic tradition with wit, camp, Hollywood dazzle, and a spectacular coastal New England setting. The five heroines will charm and infuriate.Their well-developed humanity is a highlight of the book, as are the vivid illustrations of the supporting cast – the peculiar, creepy, and downright deadly things keen on foiling the five. Our heroines are connected by two things - Mary MacLane’s scandalous 1902 memoir exploring her sexuality and the Brookhants School for Girls in Little Compton, Rhode Island. In 1902, Libbie Brookhants and Alexandra Trills are dealing with the fallout from three tragic student deaths at Brookhants School, all under bizarre circumstances and within curious proximity to the MacLane book. Between the two women are also years of love, secrets, and tensions that will spiral to disastrous consequences. In 2015, mercurial wunderkind author Merritt Emmons’ debut book about Brookhants has been optioned for film. Harper Harper, indie-sweetheart and Instagram’s favorite celesbian, has signed on as producer and lead actress. Audrey Wells, B-listed and suffocating under her mother’s scream queen shadow, somehow lands the other. Curious and unsettling circumstances immediately envelop the film and its stars. A cheeky narrator guides us between perspectives, centuries and locations while supplying mostly trustworthy information and reminding us that curses, history, and women are rarely as they appear.


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Fortune Favors the Dead: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery By Stephen Spotswood Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780593310755
Availability: On our shelves now.
Published: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard - August 3rd, 2021

Willowjean “Will” Parker is a circus runaway-turned assistant detective; and she might be falling for a client, a socialite whose mother was murdered during a Halloween séance…possibly by her husband’s ghost. Working for Lillian Pentecost, infamous NYC private eye, Will guides us on a witty romp through murder, embezzlement, blackmail, and family secrets come to light.