May 2021 Indie Next List
Great Circle: A novel
Maggie Shipstead (Knopf)
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“Great Circle is about two women 100 years apart: pilot Marian Graves and Hadley Baxter, the actress cast to play the famous pilot. This epic novel is fascinating, adventurous, and well-written, with great characters, historical details, and fantastic settings. Don’t miss this journey!”
— Kathy Morrison, Newtown Bookshop, Newtown, PA
May 2021 Indie Next List
Inspired Recommendations from Indie Booksellers
By Andy Weir
Ballantine Books
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“Remember how much you loved The Martian? Prepare to love this book even more. I found myself engrossed from the very beginning, and every page brings a new delight. Weir writes incredible characters that leave a mark you’ll feel long after you’re done.”
— Mattie Shepard, Gramercy Books, Bexley, OH
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“What fun! This delightful book should be in every beach bag this summer. A hilariously comedic rom-com with memorable characters, set in varied vacation spots in various years. I enjoyed the changing timeline and seeing the relationship as it grew through the years.”
— Shelley Lowe, Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth, TX
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“I was struck by just how much I loved this book for how it walks through grief not as a way to leave it behind, but as a way to remember its exact shape. I’m grateful for its funny, self-deprecating, and wise observations, and for its difficult beauty.”
— Steve Haruch, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
By Laura Dave
Simon & Schuster
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“I adore Laura Dave and absolutely loved The Last Thing He Told Me. Wonderful characters, amazing writing, and a twisty plot kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Truly unputdownable and a thoroughly enjoyable read!”
— Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield's Books Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA
By Joan Silber
Counterpoint
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“No one is better than Joan Silber at revealing the hidden links that connect people. The small, human details in Secrets of Happiness feel at first like ripples in a pond, but they prove in the end to be mighty waves in an ocean the size of the world.”
— James Crossley, Madison Books, Seattle, WA
By Jessica Anya Blau
Custom House
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“Mary Jane is 14 in 1975 and her summer nannying job is filled with surprises, spontaneity, and love as she is pulled into the family of the little girl she watches. A sweet and funny story of discovering yourself, your loved ones, and where you fit in. It really hit home for me.”
— Courtney Boches, Reads & Company, Phoenixville, PA
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“In The Woman With the Blue Star, Jenoff continues to showcase herself as one of the masters of historical fiction, deftly intertwining emotional power with historical accuracy. Much like The Lost Girls of Paris, this is one our customers will be coming back for again and again.”
— Alex Brubaker, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA
By Carole Johnstone
Scribner
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“You will tie yourself in knots trying to figure out what’s happening in Mirrorland, the story of two sisters growing up with different stories attached to the games they play, stories that take on a life of their own years later as buried memories come to the fore.”
— Pete Mock, McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC
By Jean Hanff Korelitz
Celadon Books
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“I devoured this smart, suspenseful novel about a failed novelist who reignites his career with a stolen plot and gains fame and notoriety. Korelitz’s depiction of the book world is a treat for those of us in it, but her twisty, psychologically astute plotting will hold broad appeal.”
— Becky Dayton, The Vermont Book Shop, Middlebury, VT
By Jennifer Saint
Flatiron Books
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“Satisfying the need for more Greek/Roman transformational myths from much-needed other viewpoints, Jennifer Saint delivers tales of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra’s life on Crete and beyond. Less heroic yarn and more character inquisitiveness — a refreshing addition.”
— Michelle Bear, Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds, WA
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“What I love about polar expedition stories is imagining surviving the same situation. Madhouse at the End of the Earth is a fascinating study of chasing fame at any cost and the price paid when things go horribly wrong. A worthy addition to the canon of polar expedition history.”
— Tom Beans, Dudley's Bookshop Cafe, Bend, OR
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“Comparing this book to Eleanor Oliphant left me a bit skeptical, but the comparison is fair and I’d even say that The Music of Bees stands on its own beautifully. Add in some interesting facts on bees and heartwarming stories of lovable, offbeat characters and you have a winner.”
— Pat Rudebusch, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
By Mary Kay Andrews
St. Martin's Press
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“Mary Kay Andrews knows how to put mystery and beach together to make a blockbuster novel. I know it’s really summer when a new novel by Andrews becomes available. The Newcomer is perfect for us right now. It’s got it all. I can’t wait to start hand-selling it.”
— Jean Lewis, Copperfish Books, Punta Gorda, FL
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“Pop Song is an engaging blend of art criticism, memoir, and travelogue with the raw and confessional style of the microblogging generation. Larissa Pham’s prose bounces seamlessly and dexterously from looking outward to inward and back with equal attention, passion, and insight.”
— Matt Stowe, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
By Stacey Swann
Doubleday
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“A gripping debut that takes all of the skeletons out of the Briscoe family closet and throws them on the front lawn. The depth of character development speaks to my own east Texan family, which feels disconcerting and scandalous. A page-turning read that you won’t want to end.”
— Charley Rejsek, BookPeople, Austin, TX
By Chris Bohjalian
Doubleday
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“Trapped in a marriage with a violent man in Puritan New England, the fierce and resilient Mary Deerfield has the audacity to file for divorce in a time when women are accused of witchcraft for any non-conforming behavior. While historical, this story rings true for today.”
— Lisa Casper, Tattered Cover Colfax, Denver, CO
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“I haven’t felt such joy reading a sci-fi series in a long time. Murderbot is just the best. If you’ve been putting off reading The Murderbot Diaries, go start right now!”
— Katherine Osborne, Letterpress Books, Portland, ME
By Marc Hamer
Greystone Books
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“This book has the kind of calm coziness that will leave your mind abuzz with wonder and reflection about the natural world, gardens, and our place in them. Gardener or not, this book has lessons for us all on the kind of patience, quiet, and listening we could use a bit more of in this world.”
— Jacob Rogers, McNally Jackson Books, New York, NY
By Stacey Abrams
Doubleday Books
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“From the first pages, this crime novel from author/activist Stacey Abrams drew me into the world of the Supreme Court (and chess!) and the seedy underbelly of the U.S. government. This race through the streets of Washington, DC, also contains a deeply satisfying ending that I won’t give away.”
— Megan Birch-McMichael, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA
By Fiona Mozley
Algonquin Books
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“A young millionaire wants to turn an old Soho brothel into luxury condos, but the tenants aren’t going to leave without a fight. A riveting tale about wealth, class, gentrification, power, and gender, this story shows readers just how unjust the world can be. A 2021 must-read!”
— Jennie Minor, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
By Catriona Silvey
William Morrow
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“An absolutely incredible concept brought to life by a stunning new voice in literature. We get to know the two protagonists so completely as they live their lives. This novel has time travel, mystery, self-exploration, and at its heart true love. Just the best kind of storytelling.”
— Becky Doherty, Northshire Saratoga, Saratoga Springs, NY
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“Vern is a captivating protagonist from page one: gritty, determined, flawed, clever, and resourceful. The story slowly fills in all the details of a life that wasn’t what it seemed, and offers an ending you can’t predict. Sorrowland is beautiful, ugly, engaging, and awe-inspiring.”
— Sydne Conant, A Room Of One's Own Bookstore, Madison, WI
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“At its heart, Folklorn is a haunting and lyrical novel about mythology, science, generational trauma, and identity, but it’s also much more. I took my time reading this since I wanted to really stop and think about the questions it raised. A truly memorable, genre-bending reading experience!”
— Grace Rajendran, University Book Store, Seattle, WA
Now in Paperback
Indie Next List Selections Come to Paperback
