Top 10
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“This story of the first all-women class action lawsuit is one that everyone needs to read. Moore does a fabulous job of showing these women for who they were: real people, with families and lives that were torn apart by devastating health problems caused by years of working in a watch factory, painting glowing radium onto watch dials. A heartbreaking, inspiring story of strong women who stuck together through the most horrible of circumstances.”
— Maggie Henriksen, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI
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“This slender and compulsively readable novel will be one of the most powerful and heartbreaking reads you will encounter. It’s a story of migration and love of all kinds while also being a lesson on empathy for people robbed of their basic rights and needs. Hamid’s prose is quiet yet commanding, delivering passages and scenes unlikely to leave your subconscious. Exit West is gorgeous, timely, and desperately needed.”
— Tarah Jennings, Mitzi's Books, Rapid City, SD
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“Spoils by Brian Van Reet shows that wars are not black and white but all kinds of shades of grey. This is a war story—dark, violent, morally ambivalent, and utterly captivating. Van Reet has created three very different characters on different sides of the divide but imbued each of them with stories and backgrounds that make sense, even if the war doesn’t.”
— Laura Cummings, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
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“In The Underground Railroad, Whitehead captures the quotidian horror of slavery in a way that I’ve never read. The banality of evil is on full display—but so is the human spirit. Cora’s escape and life on the run is both terrifyingly real and uncomfortably familiar. The way the author plays fast and loose with time and elements of magical realism, such as making the Underground Railroad a literal thing, gives this story an otherworldly quality. This may be Colson Whitehead’s masterpiece.”
— James Wilson, Octavia Books, New Orleans, LA
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“To a Bavarian palace, worn and collapsing like the rest of Germany at the end of the Second World War, a widow returns to honor a promise. Secrets, sacrifices, and the struggle to survive all make for a highly provocative read. Shattuck’s poignant and powerful story about these women and their children, thrown together by war and its aftermath, gave me a renewed respect and empathy for their contemporary counterparts caught in the conflict around today’s world. The first thing I wanted to do after finishing this book was talk about it!”
— Vivien Jennings, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS
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“This tiny gem of a novel packs a powerful and moving punch. Author Nathacha Appanah has crafted a poignant meditation on class, entitlement, and immigration. Anita and Adam have become sedentary in their art and marriage. The arrival of undocumented immigrant Adele in their lives reignites their creativity but comes at a cataclysmic cost. With searing beauty and eloquent prose, Waiting for Tomorrow is the novel that book clubs are waiting to discuss.”
— Pamela Klinger-Horn, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior, MN
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“What a fun romp through time! Because you know if you go back in time, you are going to mess things up. And Tom Barren certainly does. All Our Wrong Todays is filled with mad scientists, alternate realities, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It’s not just Dr. Whovian fun, it’s also about family, love, hope, and the endless possibilities within each of us.”
— Susan Thomas, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
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“Miss Burma is an ambitious and heartbreaking novel about a multicultural family in Burma as World War II enters their country. From the 1940s through the civil war of the 1950s and ’60s, the family’s circumstance ranges from prosperity to refugee status to prisoners, while each member of the family struggles with issues of love, loyalty, and identity. The novel is all the more amazing in that it is based on the true story of the author’s own parents and grandparents.”
— Stan Hynds, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
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“This book is stunning in its scope and execution. Through four distinct threads, the story of Archie Ferguson is told, each illuminating a different path, a different life. In each, he bears witness to the fraught era of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War; in each, he struggles to make a life of writing. This book offers the reader a complex tapestry of an individual life shot through with the many large and small moments that give shape and meaning to that life. A rich and powerful story full of subtlety and compassion.”
— Eve MacNeill, Battenkill Books, Cambridge, NY
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“While visiting the Angola prison to watch an Easter pageant, a writer meets Kendrick King, a black inmate facing life imprisonment for a crime he says he didn’t commit. The subsequent investigation into Kendrick’s life becomes a look at just what the truth means in a society built upon a flawed justice system. Lazar handles the unnamed writer’s doubts with aplomb as the investigation spreads across people from Kendrick’s past life, striving to answer questions that do not have easy answers and, quite frankly, may not be answerable at all. Vengeance handles its burden of unanswerable questions well in a time where the even the most obvious of truths is met with skepticism.”
— Steven Shonder, Anderson's Bookshops, Naperville, IL
Dazzling Debuts
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“A novel with as much desolation and devastation as Omar El Akkad’s ferocious American War, set in a time that is beyond ours but in the scope of now, is usually tagged as dystopian. However convenient such labels are, this book transcends easy labels with its visceral immediacy, its vivid and unforgettable characters, its blasted, wasted, ‘high water everywhere’ landscapes, and its harrowing course of action. Omar El Akkad has written an unblinking, visionary book about this country, its relationship with itself, and its place and effect in the larger world. Underlying it all, there are also surprise moments of human tenderness and beauty.”
— Rick Simonson, Rick Simonson, Seattle, WA
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“High school student Lucinda Hayes was loved, worshipped, and…hated. And now she’s dead. But who’s responsible? Her hometown is thrown into anguish at the loss of their sparkling hope. And yet those who knew her best have their own stories to tell, and not all of their memories support Lucinda’s image. Can Officer Russ Fletcher discover the truth in the midst of his own painful memories? This is an impressive, riveting debut by an author with real talent. We’ll see more from her in the future. I can’t wait!”
— Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
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“Salt Houses pulls you into the fabric of the life of this Palestinian family and takes you through one tumultuous decade after another. I can rave about how important this book is for humanizing Muslims in a time of radical stereotyping, but it’s also just a damn good read. The draw of these people is irresistible! Every character is flawed, everyone is beautiful, each struggles with issues that are at times like those of any family, and at times unique to the social and cultural struggles of war-torn communities. Hala Alyan’s writing is infused with color and grace—a phenomenal fiction debut!”
— Katie Plumb, Country Bookshelf, Bozeman, MT
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“The complexities of the lives of girls and their mothers are explored through a Nigerian lens in this remarkable debut collection. Strains of magical realism enlarge some of the stories to modern folktale. Yet throughout, Lesley Nneka Arimah delivers sharp observations on the fraught relationships between mothers and the young women they must mentor as they all navigate what is still a very patriarchal world.”
— Kris Kleindienst, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO
Nonfiction and Memoir
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“In the spirit of her many-greats-grandfather, Ralph Waldo Emerson, 38-year-old Nina Riggs tells the remarkably simple and profound story of her last year of life. This memoir provoked me to tears and belly laughs on the same page. Filled with sentiment without being sappy, this is a gorgeous telling of a life—perfect for those who loved When Breath Becomes Air.”
— Nicole Magistro, Bookworm of Edwards, Edwards, CO
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“Brave, heartbreaking, and unflinching, this is a powerful examination of how trauma scars our bodies, how our bodies betray us in return, and how even the most well-meaning among us participate in shaming those whose differences make us uncomfortable. Reading Hunger is uncomfortable, illuminating, and necessary.”
— Clara Boza, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, NC
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“Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (The Lost City of Z) is a page-turner that reveals a part of American history long forgotten. In the 1920s, the Osage Indians of Oklahoma were some of the wealthiest people in the world. They were also being poisoned and murdered. Grann covers all the sordid details, brings the principal characters to life, and just when you think it’s all figured out, reveals new information. It’s a compelling story of greed, betrayal, J. Edgar Hoover, the Wild West, and murder, still resonating with the Osage today.”
— Alison DeCamp, Between the Covers, Harbor Springs, MI
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“A thoroughly enjoyable memoir of the romance and reality of a life on the road—specifically, a long-haul mover, or ‘bedbugger,’ in the terms of the trade—that manages to be as wise about class and culture in modern America as any academic treatise.”
— Tom Nissley, Phinney Books, Seattle, WA
By Michael Finkel
Vintage
“At 20 years old, Chris Knight drove into the Maine woods as far as his gas tank would take him, got out, threw his keys on the center console, walked into the forest, and lived in solitude for the next 27 years. While the story is largely the reader’s voyeuristic look at how he survived, this book is really an interesting commentary on introversion at its most extreme and its effects on an individual, a family, and society. It’s a fascinating read with references from history, philosophy, and psychology that don’t bog down the intensity of the story, which reads like a novel.”
— Jessica Perez , University Book Store (Mill Creek), Mill Creek, WA
Family Ties
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“All Grown Up, a raw but funny novel, tells the story of the ever-present battle between when it’s appropriate to put yourself first versus when it’s time to simply grow up. Through the life of Andrea, the reader is taken on a journey of true friendships and sexual failures, pathetic dependency and heart-wrenching family dynamics. Needless to say, Attenberg has done it again.”
— Hannah Farrow, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL
By Victor Lodato
“I adored every minute of Edgar & Lucy. The story is told from multiple perspectives, and each narrator is blinded in some way from understanding the full story—whether by youth, love, mental illness, grief, or alcoholism. Each voice, in turn, weaves an irresistible tale of the price we pay, and are willing to pay, to be completely in love—whether with a partner, a child, or a grandchild. Eight-year-old Edgar is the central character. I loved his voice instantly and was completely absorbed in and committed to his story from moment one. A great read for individuals and book clubs alike.”
— Jessica Fowle, Bookbug, Kalamazoo, MI
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“This is a lovely story about a young boy who goes to live with his great aunt after his mother dies. It’s sad, it’s poignant, and though billed as a ghost story, it’s less about a ghost (although there is an appearance...) and more about the ghosts of our past and about how as we age, we take them with us.”
— Joanne Berg, Mystery to Me, Madison, WI
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“Our Short History gives an intimate look at a single mother’s life as she prepares to leave her son due to terminal ovarian cancer. I loved pragmatic Karen, who very much wants to control things after she’s gone, although she knows that’s impossible. Karen is a political campaign consultant who is used to spinning and manipulating the media for her clients. The one story she can’t control is the fact that her ex-boyfriend, her son’s father, is surprisingly back in the picture—the man who didn’t want a child. A beautiful read.”
— Rachel Watkins , Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA
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“A moving, honest story of friends and family, mistakes that shape our lives, and family bonds broken, with a reminder that forgiveness and restoration is possible through love and binding memories. The characters and the small town of Noon Sun are charming. The rich descriptions made me want to book travel plans and visit immediately, to seek them out and befriend them all.”
— Renee Clark, Book-ish, Cashiers, NC
Coming of Age
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“I loved this book so much that I truly didn’t want it to end. Backman writes stories that are full of heart yet gritty and real enough that they don’t veer into cloying sentimentality. He is a master craftsman, weaving subtle details into a beautifully told, captivating masterpiece. Beartown, on the edge of nowhere, is in an economic decline, with only the town’s hockey team giving its residents hope for the future and a sense of belonging. When that future is threatened, Beartown’s residents are forced to show what they really stand for. If you like John Irving, if you love Richard Russo, if you want a novel that is just plain wonderful, read Beartown!”
— Carol Schneck Varner, Schuler Books (Okemos), Okemos, MI
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“What a delight. In the first few pages, you’ll be struck by the unusual narrative voice; after a few pages more, you’ll be absolutely hooked. There’s so much comedy in this story, about a young chemist navigating the pressures of her academic field along with the confusion of her first serious adult romance, but it’s deliciously dry, sly humor. Give a copy to every high-achieving, socially awkward person you know—and all the people who love them.”
— Mary Laura Philpott, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
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“In a time when immigration is a political issue, this novel puts a human face on a very complex situation. It tells the story of a woman who came to New York from China, created a family, was deported, and what happened after her sudden disappearance. This is an ambitious and compelling novel, told in sections alternating between Polly’s brash, bold, determined, loving, and frightened voice and son Deming’s confused, lonely, troubled one as he grows up under the adopted name of Daniel. Chosen by Barbara Kingsolver for the Bellwether Prize for the best novel to address issues of social justice, The Leavers will open your eyes and your heart.”
— Yvette Olson, Magnolia's Bookstore, Seattle, WA
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“In an ocean of New York City coming-of-age novels, it’s hard to stand out—but Neon in Daylight does. Hermione Hoby writes with prose so compelling and gorgeous that after I finished the book I looked her up to see if she was a poet. The characters she creates are interesting and sometimes infuriating, and I felt my heart break with them. It’s also one of those rare books that gets the sensory detail just right, that made me feel oppressed by heat and almost sweaty. I loved this book. I picked it up on a whim and didn’t put it down until I was done.”
— Sarah Malley, Newtonville Books, Newton Centre, MA
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“One might expect a fictional narrative about a man’s bedside vigil for his dying mother to be a maudlin affair, but not in this case. Tomb Song is a book of strong emotions, certainly, but it’s also artfully controlled and all the more devastating because of it. It may flay the skin off you, but sometimes that’s just what you need so you can experience the world in a new way.”
— James Crossley, Island Books (WA), Mercer Island, WA
Mysteries and Thrillers
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“Russell and Maben are at the end of their respective ropes, and when their paths collide one day in the pine barrens of southern Mississippi, only two options remain: endless violence or salvific retribution. Along the way, they bump against a memorable cast of characters equally scarred by past sins and the legacy of cruelty. Forget the labels ‘Southern Gothic,’ ‘antihero drama,’ or ‘literary noir.’ With Desperation Road, Michael Farris Smith arrives triumphantly on the American literary landscape—a landscape striped with dark dirt roads and the redemptive freedom of the interstate.”
— Steve Iwanski, Turnrow Book Company, Greenwood, MS
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“A family of three is murdered, supposedly by the father, who shoots himself afterward. No one is overly surprised since farmers are barely scraping by due to a very long dry spell. Into this situation walks a cop who left the town 20 years earlier while under suspicion for another death. Stakes get higher, and you can taste the dry wind.”
— Olga Onal, Bookmiser, Roswell, GA
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“Macallister has penned a great story featuring a strong, independent woman. Kate purposely pursues a career with Pinkerton, as she loves the life of a spy operative. I loved Macallister’s depiction of the time period right before and during the Civil War, and I really enjoyed the description of detective work in its early years. Great read!”
— Karin Wilson, Page and Palette, Fairhope, AL
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“I finished The Perfect Nanny in a day! I loved it. What I think makes it so very good is that even though you know how it ends after the first chapter, you keep reading! I was so drawn in, I found myself talking to the characters, thinking I could change things.”
— Shannon Walker, Buffalo Books and Coffee, ,
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“Finally, a female spy who’s not a Mata Hari knockoff! A smart, twisty tale for any lover of the spy genre. Move over Le Carré, Furst, and all others in this male-dominated field, you have company.”
— Pete Mock, McIntyre's Books, Pittsboro, NC
History as Fiction
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“Rabb offers a unique perspective in this novel of Jewish life in Georgia blended with the southern black experience after WWII. Ike Goldah survived the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe and is brought to Savannah by his cousins, who introduce him to their shoe business in hopes of offering him a new life. Although he has little passion and energy to offer this new experience, he gradually begins to learn about the south through the eyes of the black employees involved in his cousins’ business. Rabb paints a poignant portrait of prejudice and injustice as it plays out in Ike’s past and present life. The peril and drama kept me eager to know how it was going to end. A terrific read!”
— Stephanie Crowe, Page and Palette, Fairhope, AL
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“Sarah Perry’s Essex Serpent is as intricate, sublime, deep, dark, and mysterious as its titular character. I found myself entranced by the people populating this novel’s backwoods Victorian Essex and busy, gloomy London and the clashes they have at the borders of faith and reason, love and social justice.”
— Megan Bell, Underground Books, Carrollton, GA
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“New York in 1746 is a frontier village just beginning to grow into its identity as the economic powerhouse of the American colonies. Spufford has created a lively cast of characters, those drawn to life on the very fringes of the known world. When a mysterious young man arrives from London with an outrageous line of credit, it immediately alerts the city folk. He is dangerous, but no one can figure out exactly how or why. Spufford masters the art of antique dialogue using language that’s fresh but still perfectly of a time and place. The plot is quick-paced and the intrigue compelling. This is historical fiction at its finest.”
— Kathi Kirby, Powell's Books, Portland, OR
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“The fact that Saunders’ first novel is awesome is no surprise, but everything else about it is. Lincoln in the Bardo takes a historical event and uses a recognizable form—bibliographic citation—and flips it, flips us, until we are no longer able to distinguish what is truth. Saunders reminds us that, ultimately, history is just people telling stories.”
— Claire Anderson-Ramos, BookPeople, Austin, TX
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“The Lonely Hearts Hotel is an enticing novel about a love between two orphans, Pierrot and Rose. As they are put through difficult situations, they go down a rabbit hole of drugs, sex, and criminal behavior. Their love goes in cycles over time, sometimes very strong and at other times waning. The Lonely Hearts Hotel is endearing, disturbing, and enchanting all at the same time. Highly recommended for those wanting to devour a strangely wonderful love story.”
— Kristin Beverly, Half Price Books, Dallas, TX
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“In Sofia, Bulgaria, a young American woman mourning the loss of a beloved brother has a chance encounter with an elderly couple. She helps them into a cab; a satchel is left behind. When Alexandra opens the bag, what she finds sets her on a path that will take her into Sofia’s charged political past. Kostova plunges the reader into a web of political oppression, horror, and personal danger. As in The Historian, Kostova weaves a page-turner that takes the reader through historic places and darker days while introducing characters that are essential to good storytelling.”
— Joanie Goodrow, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham, MA
YA Conversation Starters
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“American Street left me absolutely breathless. Ibi Zoboi has written a story about family, first love, and the crossroads of faith and hope. Through the lens of Zoboi’s gorgeous prose, Fabiola’s voice soars as she struggles to make sense of her new life, longs to be reunited with her mother, and finds herself faced with an impossible choice. This is YA at its very best: aching, revealing, and so true it hurts.”
— Stephanie Appell, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
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“Rin Chupeco scared me in The Girl From the Well and in The Suffering, but she has completely enchanted me in The Bone Witch. The magic and world-building are amazing. From the first pages, when Tea accidentally resurrects her first dead body, to the end, where she has fully embraced being a bone witch, the reader is immersed in the world of the asha: a world of magic, fighting, dancing, and politics. I’m really hoping Chupeco is a bone witch herself, because the wait for the second book might kill me!”
— Kate Towery, The Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA
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“This is a fantastic contemporary teen debut that tells the story of a Muslim teen, Janna, and her acceptance of her identity. Janna has some preconceived notions about some of her close friends and needs to be strong and brave as she fights others’ preconceived notions of good and bad. Questioning herself, her motives, her strengths, and her faith, Janna is a fully formed heroine for our time! Appreciating differences and strength in family are key themes in this terrific book.”
— Maureen Palacios, Once Upon a Time, Montrose, CA
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“An impossible heist, a fantasy world, and a crew of six very different people brought together in their quest for a life-changing fortune. Quietly dazzling in its complexity, Leigh Bardugo’s newest is the type of book that makes the rest of the world drop away while reading it. This book will consume you in the way only a brilliant fantasy book can. With characters that felt so real I wanted to meet them, and an action packed plot with plenty of subterfuge, intrigue, and complicated relationships, this book will quickly vault to the top of your favorite books list and firmly entrench itself there… at least until the sequel.”
— Phoebe Dyer, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
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- January/February 2024 Kids Indie Next List
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