July 2022 Indie Next List
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel
Gabrielle Zevin (Knopf)
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“I am deeply mourning finishing this book. Zevin has masterfully created a love story for friendship that will stay with me. While the characters were imperfect — so, strikingly human — following this span of 30 years left me wanting more.”
— Vina Castillo, Kew & Willow Books, Kew Gardens, NY
July 2022 Indie Next List
Inspired Recommendations from Indie Booksellers
By Becky Chambers
Tordotcom
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“Just as wonderful and as tender as A Psalm for the Wild-Built. A sweet and earthy cup of tea to warm the soul. New and old characters to giggle with, cry with, and just flat out fall in love with. A book that I will return to again and again.”
— Allie Bisset, Third Street Books, McMinnville, OR
By Alice Elliott Dark
Scribner / Marysue Rucci Books
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“Fellowship Point was a joy to read. Alice Elliott Dark has crafted unforgettable characters in a sweeping story of friendship, family, and life as a whole. I hit pause on the real world for a bit and fell deeply in love with this gem of a novel.”
— Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield's Books Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA
By Ottessa Moshfegh
Penguin Press
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“Lapvona is a truly marvelous and original creation that walks the iconic Moshfegh line of stomach-churning and profound. This book has its underbelly exposed and its eyes to the heavens.”
— Ellie Eaton, Busboys and Poets, Washington, DC
By Morgan Talty
Tin House Books
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“Night of the Living Rez explores the way the past informs the present, and how each small moment makes a heartbreaking, funny, beautiful life. Talty’s characters live and breathe on the page. This book is a celebration of life and language.”
— Margaret Leonard, Dotters Books, Eau Claire, WI
By Julie Clark
Sourcebooks Landmark
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“Kat Roberts has waited a decade to expose con artist Meg Williams. Now she finally has the chance...The Lies I Tell is a masterful tale. The characters are so well written, the plot smart and fast moving. This is definitely not one to miss!”
— Rebecca Minnock, Murder By the Book, Houston, TX
By Alexis Schaitkin, Elishia Merricks
Celadon Books
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“Timeless! Beautifully haunting! All of the comparisons are apt — this is a modern day ‘The Lottery’ penned in gorgeous prose, with an underlying mystery that is a thrill to untangle.”
— Chelsea Berry, Bull Moose, Portland, ME
By Alix E. Harrow
Tordotcom
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“I was enthralled with Zinnia’s impeccable voice in this A Spindle Splintered follow-up. Harrow’s vast knowledge of fairy tales really shines in this installment. I’m happy to put my hands on anything Harrow writes — she’s a new favorite!”
— Amber Brown, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
By Ruth Ware
Gallery/Scout Press
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“This is the perfect summer read, it grabs you from the first few pages and engrosses you in its murder mystery. Problems and worries slip away as you delve deeper and deeper into the story. Isn’t that what we all need from time to time?”
— BJ Hegedus, Postalworks Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
By T. Kingfisher
Tor Nightfire
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“Rarely do I come across horror novels with such witty and delightful characters. The dialogue made me want to sit down to tea with each person, but the creepy gothic atmosphere made me want to forgo the tea and run away screaming instead.”
— Anna Hersh, Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis, MN
By Blake Crouch
Ballantine Books
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“Blake Crouch is one of my desert-island authors. I had high expectations for this book, and he absolutely smashed all of them. Upgrade is fast paced — but most importantly, brilliantly written.”
— Kailey Fox, Kingfisher Bookstore, Coupeville, WA
By Julia Armfield
Flatiron Books
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“A haunting meditation on relationships in all their messy glory. The descriptive language is beautiful and unforgettable. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.”
— David Vogel, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
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“I never thought I’d gush over a romance set in a funeral home featuring a ghost. In a plethora of romcoms, The Dead Romantics stands out for being light in humor but deep in feeling. It truly will linger long after you finish the book.”
— Chan Preet Singh, Eagle Eye Book Shop, Decatur, GA
By Ava Reid
Harper Voyager
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“A gorgeous story influenced by one of the Brothers Grimm’s darkest tales. At the center, two souls find a haven in each other while escaping evil worse than any monster under the bed. Juniper & Thorn is bewitching and utterly captivating.”
— Tarah Jennings, Mitzi's Books, Rapid City, SD
By Ada Calhoun
Grove Press
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“Ada Calhoun has given us a poised, magnificent memoir on family, her father, and of huge emotional and personal exploration. She delivers an unveiled perspective on capital ‘L’ literary New York. This one shines brilliantly for all to see.”
— Scott Abel, Solid State Books, Washington, DC
By Marie Aubert, Rosie Hedger
Pushkin Press
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“I was hooked from the first line of Grown Ups, a wickedly fun novel about people behaving badly: ‘Other people’s children, always, everywhere.’ Sibling rivalry, midlife crises, and unease play out in this delicious train wreck of a book.”
— Jhoanna Belfer, Bel Canto Books, Long Beach, CA
By Louis Bayard
Algonquin Books
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“Lem Billings befriends Jackie Bouvier as she is sized up by the Kennedy family to become the wife of the up-and-coming politician. Told by an older Lem, it’s an insightful story of friendship, love, and sacrifice. Book clubs will love it!”
— Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC
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“The first sentences in this astonishing collection dare you not to read further. Walter exposes his characters for what they are in subtle and startling ways. The stories are profound, hilarious, and suspenseful, leaving us wisdom.”
— Alice Meyer, Beaverdale Books, Des Moines, IA
By Deb Rogers
Hanover Square Press
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“Jamie is grateful to be able to live out her house arrest term at a monkey sanctuary in the Florida wilderness. The women there seem so spiritual and welcoming…but what’s really going on behind closed doors? I couldn’t put this down!”
— Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books, Millerton, NY
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“Tragedy displaces pain after a curse born of a thousand-year-old jealousy exiles the beautiful Aycayia to a life in the sea. The Mermaid of Black Conch is a modern-day embodiment of our longing for community. Ruthless and beautiful.”
— Kayleen Rohrer, InkLink Books, East Troy, WI
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“A British Prince falls for an American Rapper? Yes, please! I adored the premise of this story and the characters were so lovable and fun. Highly enjoyed it and will be talking about it nonstop!”
— Jen Miller, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA
By Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori
Grove Press
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“Think Kelly Link, Ottessa Moshfegh, and a pinch of surrealism. You’ll find surprises in each story, and Murata’s voice is unique and so fun to read (if you don’t mind dark humor and disturbing themes)! Weird and absolutely delightful!”
— Rachel Brewer, Carmichael's Bookstore, Louisville, KY
By Ashley Hutson
W. W. Norton & Company
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“Where do I even begin? An original and poignant story of obsession, trauma and the desire to escape into another reality as a means of survival. This is one of the most bonkers books I’ve ever read, and one of my favorite books of 2022.”
— Gael LeLamer, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
By Katie Hafner
Spiegel & Grau
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“Sometimes a novel just settles into your heart. Such is the case with The Boys. Sweet, heartbreaking, and completely original, this novel by Katie Hafner is wholly unforgettable.”
— Mary O'Malley, Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, MO
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“Dark, gay, hot, and exquisitely twisted — this is the gay lit I’ve been achingly ready for; lovingly authentic, lovingly grotesque, and utterly disinterested in being ‘good’ representation.”
— kyra rathmann, Letters Bookshop, Durham, NC
Now in Paperback
Indie Next List Selections Come to Paperback