ADULT FICTION
“Birding with Benefits” by Sarah Dubb — “The slowly simmering romance that blossoms between plucky heroine and heart-of-gold hero results in some love scenes that are as hot as the desert sun in July.” ― Booklist, starred review
“Blessings” by Chukwuebuka Ibeh — “Lovely… Ibeh sets his story in the years leading up to the country’s 2014 anti-gay law, and, intriguingly, connects the dots of queer persecution and the everyday tragedies that are woven into the fabric of Nigerian life… Moving… Revelatory yet unresolved, simple yet polyphonic, hopeful yet full of heartbreak.”
—New York Times
“Code Red” by Vince Flynn — “The #1 New York Times bestselling series continues as Mitch Rapp faces off with Russia in this high-octane installment that is “ripped straight from next week’s headlines” — (The Real Book Spy).
“Go to Hell Ole Miss” by Jeff Barry — “I fully endorse Jeff Barry’s debut novel. Go to Hell Ole Miss is a pleasant and enjoyable read about a man and the love he has for his daughter and the people around him. Barry’s book tackles race through the eyes of the friendship, offering a welcome respite from the divided nation we find ourselves in today.” ——Sue Watson, journalist with The South Reporter
“Mind Games” by Nora Roberts — “Roberts’ latest may move you to tears, or joy, or dread, or all three….A touching story of love and grief ends in an epic battle of good versus evil.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood — “The reigning queen of STEM romance.”—The Washington Post
“Shelterwood” by Lisa Wingate — “Wingate’s stellar latest explores a centuries-long legacy of missing child cases. . . . Wingate’s insightful depiction of her young characters’ vulnerability and resourcefulness enriches the intricate plotting, and her portrayal of the region’s history, culture, and landscape enthralls. Wingate is at the top of her game.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi — ““Rich in detail and bright with tastes and textures, The Henna Artist is a fabulous glimpse into Indian culture of the 1950s.”—Bookpage, Starred Review
“The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl — “[E]nticing . . . Reichl keeps the wine—and mouthwatering prose—flowing. . . . When a waiter drops an extra dessert on the table, better not send it back to the kitchen.”—The New York Times
“You Are Here” by David Nicholls — “Given the witty dialogue and sublime natural settings (think Wordsworth and Brontë), it’s not hard to imagine this as another of Nicholls’ big-screen adaptations, like One Day. A relatable and satisfyingly realistic love story to cure any lingering lockdown blues.” — Kirkus Reviews
“You Like It Darker” by Stephen King — “King proves he’s still a master of short fiction in his sterling seventh collection… This remarkably assured collection will thrill the author’s fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange — “Wandering Stars probes the aftermath of atrocity, seeing history and its horrors as heritable . . . The reader can see what the characters cannot—what forced migration and residential schools have prevented them from seeing and sharing. The reader can see how the addictions and terrors, as well as the capacity for pleasure and endurance, echo across the Red Feather family.” —The New Yorker
ADULT MYSTERY
“Camino Ghosts” by John Grisham — “Escapist entertainment…with elements of a more traditional Grisham thriller.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“Clete” by James Lee Burke — “Burke returns to Louisiana’s New Iberia Parish and the late 1990s for a tangled tale that confronts private eye Clete Purcel with monsters in the present and spirits from the past . . . Devils and saints wrestle in the mud of bayou country.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Nothing to Lose” by J. A. Jance — “Arriving in the small town of Despair, Colorado, Jack Reacher finds himself taking on an entire town as he searches for the truths behind its sinister connection to a brutal war that is killing Americans thousands of miles away.” — Atlas Publishing
“The Housemaid is Watching” by Freida McFadden — “The New York Times best-selling author presents another addictive psychological thriller in the series in which the Housemaid, now with a family of her own, moves to the suburbs, leaving her dark secrets behind, but soon finds this seemingly perfect neighborhood the most dangerous place of all.” — Atlas Publishing
“The Last Murder at the End of the World” by Stuart Turton — “A gripping tale that reads like a Sherlock Holmes novel set in a broken future…Turton is an exciting writer with a knack for strange tales that push the envelope, and this strange story of murder, survival, and the importance of memory might be his best work yet.” ―Gabino Iglesias for NPR
“The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley — “With characters suspicious and unlikable in their own way and a fun twist, you’re in for a dark and moody escape.” — NPR.org on The Paris Apartment
“The Paris Widow” by Kimberly Belle — “At the start of Belle’s entertaining latest (after The Personal Assistant), Atlanta caterer Stella Knox and her husband, Adam, are vacationing in Paris. When Adam vanishes following an explosion at a cafe, French police tell Stella that he was likely being targeted in connection with his work as a black-market antiques dealer. Stella’s shocked–she’s only ever known Adam as the owner of a quaint antiques shop back in the States. Then her hotel room is ransacked, and she starts to worry that whoever is after Adam might have their sights set on her as well. With no sign of Adam’s body, Stella turns to her money-laundering ex-boyfriend for help untangling what happened. Together, they leap down a rabbit hole of murder and espionage, uncovering some not-so-surprising secrets along the way. The occasional predictability doesn’t hinder things too much, however: Stella is an appealing protagonist, and Belle peppers the action with vibrant descriptions of her European setting…”– PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2024.
“Think Twice” by Harlen Coben — “Bestselling mystery and thriller writer Coben brings back longtime series hero Myron Bolitar (last seen in Home, 2016) in a rewardingly action-packed mystery…Plenty of biff-boff action and suspense throughout for fans of the series.”―Booklist
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Publishing in America” by Sara Franklin — “The Editor presents [Judith] as both a case study and an agent of change in American conceptions of femininity inside and outside of the home. But it also reads, more often than not, like a love story: a great, sweeping seven-decade romance between a woman and her work.” —The Atlantic
ADULT NON-FICTION
“In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-to-Face with the Idea of an Afterlife” by Sebastian Junger — “Sebastian Junger is known for standing on the front lines in places that scare the hell out of the rest of us. Nowhere is that truer than in In My Time of Dying, where he turns inward to examine his own mortality, the most frightening—yet fascinating—frontier there is.” —Caitlin Doughty, New York Times bestselling author of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
“Northeaster” by Cathie Pelletier — “Cathie Pelletier anatomizes this two-day tempest in Northeaster, a historical re-creation of personal experiences so dramatic that they have lingered for decades in local and family lore. It’s touching to see the faces of real people who went through the ordeal.” — The Wall Street Journal
“Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully” by Julie McFadden –“What if we didn’t consider death the worst possible outcome? What if we discussed it honestly, embraced hospice care, and prepared for the end of our lives with hope and acceptance? In this compassionate and knowledgeable guide, TikTok star Julie McFadden-known online as “Hospice Nurse Julie”-shares the valuable lessons she’s learned in her fifteen years as an RN in the ICU and in hospice”— Baker & Taylor
“Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis” by George Stephanopoulos — “George Stephanopoulos’s amazing book tells the truth. It puts us in the White House Situation Room with presidents from JFK to Biden. We are there when JFK creates the room after the Bay of Pigs, we are there during the 9/11 strikes, we are there during the chaotic moments after President Reagan is shot, and when President Obama orders the takedown of Osama bin Laden. This book provides answers to questions we’ve had for years.” ―James Patterson
“The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy — “TanTan, author of The Joy Luck Club and Valley of Amazement, returns to nonfiction as she chronicles her turn toward nature-and particularly to birds-as a source of solace and respite. Through observation and her own sketches, she details her backyard visitors with careful attention and whimsy. ” — LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2023.
“The Culinary Pharmacy: Intuitive Eating, Ancestral Healing and Your Personal Nutrition Plan” by Lisa Masé — “Food is what heals, and where our food comes from and how it’s prepared and savored all matter. Lisa kindly and wisely directs us to the kitchen, to food, and to the wise intelligence of our enteric brain, the gut. And Lisa does so with such deliciousness.” ― Rosemary Gladstar, author of Medicinal Herbs
“The Little Book of Hygge” by Meik Wiking — “Meik Wiking…knows the secret to happiness…[he] has written a gorgeously designed …guide to the Danish state of being that embraces coziness, sociability, thankfulness and comfort food.” — The Times (London)
“The Wide Wide Sea” by Hampton Sides — “The Wide Wide Sea portrays Cook as a complicated figure driven by instincts and motives that often seem to have been opaque even to him . . . [A]s Cook himself seemed to have realized, and at times lamented, he was but an instrument in a much, much larger scheme.” —The New Yorker
BOARD BOOK
“Down by the Bay” by Raffi
“Pippa and Pelle and Their Cozy Home” by Daniela Drescher
PICTURE BOOK
“Ahoy!” by Sophie Blackall
“All Along the River” by Magnus Weightman
“Angela’s Glacier” by Jordan Scott
“Gotta Go, Buffalo” by Kevin Meyers
“I Know Here” by Laruel Croza
“Masala Chaie, Fast and Slow” by Rajani LaRocca
“Mother of Sharks” by Melissa Marquez
“Night in the City” by Julie Downing
“Small Things Mended” by Casey Robinson
“Stranded! A Mostly True Story from Iceland” by AEvar Benediktsson
“The Ever Changing Earth” by Grahame Baker-Smith
“The Last Zookeeper” by Aaron Becker
“The Tree and the River” by Aaron Becker
“What We’ll Build” by Oliver Jeffers
“What’s New, Daniel?” by Micha Archer
JUVENILE FICTION
“Eagle Drums” by Naugraq Hopson — “Eagle Drums marks the impressive debut of a gifted writer. Rainey gives readers an engrossing, exciting look into Iñupiaq culture while offering invaluable lessons about the power of community, kinship and celebrations.” ―BookPage, starred review
“Half Moon Summer” by Elaine Vickers — “Via distinct dual perspectives that alternate between Drew’s POV, told in compassionate prose, and Mia’s, conveyed in rhythmic verse, Vickers (Like Magic) vividly captures one emotionally turbulent summer filled with a friendship’s mutual trust and support.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Infinity Alchemist” by Kacen Callender — “Callender builds a rich environment that echoes real-world injustices…political intrigue, a fascinating magic system, and heart-pounding action propel the plot and, combined with Ash’s unfurling relationships with Ramsay and the rest of the supporting cast, result in a refreshingly affirming and tender standout fantasy.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Max in the House of Spies” by Adam Gidwitz — “Gidwitz imbues Max’s first-person voice with plentiful charm and intellect, making him an irresistible and irrepressible protagonist…. An exciting mixture of triumphs and perils, leading up to a cliffhanger ending that will have readers clamoring for the sequel.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Nigeria Jones” by Ibi Zoboi — “[Nigeria’s] personal journey toward emotional and radical self-honesty shapes this superb story.… A thoughtful reflection of real multilayered freedom struggles within Black diasporic communities. A strong declaration for supporting, loving, and empowering all Black women everywhere.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Northwind” by Gary Paulsen — “Spare, survival-oriented prose keeps the reader immersed in scenes difficult and wondrous, offering a glimpse of the sheer awesomeness of nature, showcasing the beauty of the sea and its inhabitants, and regaling readers with a timeless and irresistible adventure that has resilience at its heart.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The Absinthe Underground” by Jamie Pacton — “In this haunting tale, Pacton weaves a romantic and thrilling story of ambition, magic, and peril. Sybil and Esme’s chemistry is palpable, and Pacton’s lush portrayal of Severon as a city filled with art and beauty reminiscent of fin de siècle Paris adds additional layers of enchantment and appeal to the setting.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“The Boy Lost in the Maze” by Joseph Coelho — “Previous collaborators Coelho and Milner (The Girl Who Became a Tree) offer a vulnerable, nuanced look at masculinity via a teenager’s search for his father paralleled with the Greek myth of Theseus. . . Coelho presents an insightful, multidimensional interpretation of a millennia-old myth.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Minus-One Club” by Kekla Magoon — “This timely and thoughtful novel makes room for the increasing depth and complexity of navigating
adolescence alongside grief, religious dissent, and healing.” – Booklist, Starred Review
“The Selkie’s Daughter” by Lina Brennan — “The tale’s strength lies in its writing: well-drawn characters, a strong sense of place, vivid images of the natural world, and evocative fantastical elements. . . . An immersive reading experience threaded through with Celtic lore.” —Kirkus Reviews
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“The Life and Times of Alexander Twilight” by Bill Tulp — “… In this graphic biography, the story of Alexander Twilight and 19th Century Vermont is brought to life through visual storytelling – … This work covers Twilight’s early years to his notable career as a teacher, principal, minister, and first American of Black ancestry elected to a state legislature
….An innovator, educator, and devoted minister and legislator, he is perhaps best known for building a four-story granite dormitory for his students that has become the cornerstone of the present Old Stone House Museum and Historic Village in Brownington, Vermont.” — Amazon.com
“Mapmakers and the Flickering Fortress” by Cameron Chittock — “A refined end to a rousing voyage.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mapmakers 2 Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain” by Cameron Chittock — “Determined to prove her worth as a Mapmaker and bring balance to the mountain by restoring its magic, Alidade, with the help of Lewis and Blue, realizes she’s running out of time when the Night Coats are spotted nearby.” — Atlas Publishing
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
“Discovering Life’s Story, Volume One: Biology’s Beginnings” by Joy Hakim — “This first of a four-part MITeen series charts the evolution of life science up to the late 1800s, when the origins of the virus was discovered by a baffled Dutch biologist who found a tiny infectious particle destroying tobacco crops”– Baker & Taylor
YOUNG ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL
“Deep Dark” by Molly Ostertag — “Pairing measured pacing, dynamic paneling, robust dialogue, and abundantly realized main and supporting characters, Ostertag (The Girl from the Sea) delivers an expansive triumph–her best yet–to examine issues of grief, identity, intergenerational trauma, and reconnection.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Out of Left Field” by Jonah Newman — “Clever paneling and nearly wordless sequences effectively pump the brakes for key moments—and show glimpses of Jonah’s wild imagination… multiple queer characters of all ages at various stages of coming out add an important sense of community and possibility… A welcome hit into the outfield of books about queer athletes.” — (Kirkus Review)