Sophie's 2021 Reading List

Into the Forest

“Confession: I was wary at first about another Holocaust survival story. And then I read the prologue, and couldn't put the book down. From the first pages, Rebecca Frankel had me feeling like a child listening, rapt, to the stories the women in my family would recount about the past. The immediacy and intimacy of the narrative swept me away and I lost track of my physical location, only half aware that I was sitting on my couch instead of hiding in fear for my life. Frankel is gentle, but unflinching, as she relates the events experienced by the Rabinowitz family. While Into the Forest is one tale of Holocaust survival among many such tales, it stands out not only for Frankel's storytelling acumen, but also as a reminder that one kindness can echo into the future in astounding and unpredictable ways.”

Christine, BookPeople

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Discover the life-changing memoir that has inspired millions of readers through the Academy Award®–winning actor’s unflinching honesty, unconventional wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN

“McConaughey’s book invites... Read more »

In the first book of a suspenseful YA duology, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and masterfully delivers a dark, propulsive mystery in alternating points of view that unravels a friendship . . . forevermore. Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Truly Devious!Tress Montor’s family used to mean... Read more »

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PEOPLE PICK • OPTIONED BY SISTER PICTURES FOR TELEVISION • The discovery of a girl abandoned by the side of the road threatens to unearth the long-buried secrets of a Texas town’s legendary cold case in this superb, atmospheric novel from the internationally bestselling author of Black-Eyed Susans

“If you only read one... Read more »

After her husband’s death in World War I, Fleur’s surprising inheritance takes her deep into the past—and could unravel a mystery surrounding a cursed opal, a gnarled family tree, and a sinister woman in a green dress.1919: After a whirlwind romance, London teashop waitress Fleur Richards can’t wait for her new husband, Hugh, to return from the... Read more »

What You Wish For

“Sam Casey loves her job as an elementary school librarian on Galveston Island. That is until the founder and principal suddenly passes away and is replaced by Sam’s former crush Duncan Carpenter, who has become a stickler for rules and safety rather than the carefree, charismatic leader he was when they worked together years ago. As Sam and her colleagues try to thwart Duncan’s initiatives, she digs deeper to learn why he’s changed. A lovely novel about moving through grief and choosing to find joy wherever you can.”

Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop

Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future in this unforgettable debut novel sure to entice fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer E. Smith

Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and... Read more »

The Lost Apothecary

“A wonderful melding of two timelines told by a trio of female voices. Each woman is standing at a crossroads; one is just becoming a woman, one is anticipating the end of her life, and one the end of her marriage. A small, blue apothecary bottle links the women and the timelines together. Penner skillfully guides us along the path each woman chooses. I could hardly bear to put the book down, such was the need to know the choice each woman makes and the consequences of that choice.”

Sandi Madore, Magnolia's Bookstore

It starts with a stolen kiss under an English sky, and it ends with a walk down the aisle. It starts with the President sending his best friend to woo me on his behalf, and it ends with my heart split in two. It starts with buried secrets and dangerous desires . . . and ends with the three of us bound together with a hateful love sharper than... Read more »

The World Gives Way

“The World Gives Way gave me so many things: a crime novel, a science fiction epic, but also something that explores the beauties of love and the strive to survive through it all. This is an adventure that I won't be forgetting any time soon.”

Christian Vega, Astoria Bookshop

The Pull of the Stars

“Listening to this novel about the 1918 influenza pandemic during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic was a bit of a surreal experience yet so powerful and insightful. Donoghue condenses these characters' lifetimes into just three days, and I found myself thinking about and missing them long after I had finished the book. Bonus: The actor reading it has such a lovely Irish accent.”

Shirley, Watermark Books

The Once and Future Witches

“Alix Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January was my favorite book last year, so I had incredibly high expectations when I picked up The Once and Future Witches. This book is very different, but I adore it just as much! Set in the late 1800s in a world with a slightly alternate history from ours, women are fighting for the vote and losing. Three wayward sisters decide to challenge the patriarchy by bringing back witchcraft. Told through familiar stories twisted in new ways, this book is incredible. You will not be able to put it down, from the beautifully written introduction to the pulse-pounding ending!”

Carrie Deming, Dog Ear Books

An instant New York Times bestseller

Crazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knockout debut about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of one of the most influential K-pop girl groups of all time, Girls’... Read more »

The Girls Are All So Nice Here

“The Girls Are All So Nice Here is the first, but not the last, lie you will read when you devour this dark and disturbing novel about college girls and how they treat each other in order to be popular or important. The writing is chilling and so authentic, I felt like I was back in high school or college with a group of toxic girls who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. The more I read, the more I wondered how Flynn could possibly come up with an ending that would be both satisfying and as deliciously evil as the rest of the book. She managed to deliver, and then some.”

Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction

Vera

“Experience the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 like never before — from inside the family of one of the most famous brothel madams. In this story, Edgarian combines lyrical writing and a cast of unforgettable characters, both real and imagined, with themes of love, rejection, graft, and economic disparity, all sprinkled with racism and misogyny. You won’t be able to visit the City by the Bay ever again without looking for Rose and her descendants. I couldn’t put this down.”

Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands

“Masterful and left me on the edge of my seat…absolutely everything I could want in a sci-fi.” —Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth

Westworld meets Warcross in this high-stakes, dizzyingly smart sci-fi about a teen girl navigating an afterlife in which she must defeat an AI entity intent on destroying... Read more »

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Summer and “undisputed boss of the beach read” (The New York Times) comes another timely and deliciously twisty novel of intrigue, secrets, and the transformative power of female friendship.

Daisy Shoemaker can’t sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a... Read more »

Act Your Age, Eve Brown

“Eve is sunshine and chaos, Jacob is all structure and self-reliance - they're both autistic (as is the author), hard-working, and absolutely obsessed with each other from the beginning. Equal parts significant, silly, and sexy, this finale to the Brown Sisters trilogy does not disappoint.”

Miriasha , Phoenix Books

An Unlikely Spy

“Historical fiction about the early days of World War II, and bright young Evelyn Varley who gets recruited to MI5 in London. Based on real people and events it's a great depiction of the world of espionage and the sacrifices and consequences one faced by being part of the spy network. Interesting author's notes at the end too!”

Polly, The Hickory Stick Bookshop

Miss Eliza's English Kitchen

“An absolutely wonderful story of friendship, motherly love, and delicious food! Have a treat while reading because you will surely be hungry while embarking in is this cookery book writing journey with Eliza and Ann!”

Anne, Inklings Bookshop