Staff Favorites

"Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'."Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a... Read more »

Voted by the British Crime Writers’ Association as the "Best Crime Novel of all Time"Hercule Poirot comes out of retirement in one of Agatha Christie’s ten favorite novels, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been... Read more »

Where the Crawdads Sing

“This first novel by nature writer Delia Owens has something for everyone. Fans of poetry, natural history, murder mysteries, southern food, and romance will be caught up in the deeply moving prose and memorable characters. Plus, the narrator adds in the North Carolina accents, too!”

Amy, Inklings Bookshop

Book Lovers

“A great summer listen! I loved the behind-the scenes-literary angle and how traditional tropes were addressed head-on.”

Amy, Banter Bookshop

Illuminae

“The most innovative, exciting work of science fiction--maybe even book in general--that I've ever read. Snarky teenagers, twisted AI, plague on a spaceship, and a stunningly unique dossier storytelling template. A great start to an amazing trilogy and an entire PRODUCTION of an audiobook. All three are basically radio plays with their multiple (returning) narrators, SFX, and creative incorporation of abstract pages. If there was a series I'd recommend experiencing in both print and audio, it's this one.”

Sam, Phoenix Books

Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow."-- Scott Sigler Pierce Brown' s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender' s Game by Orson Scott Card. " I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. " That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father... Read more »

Pride and Prejudice

“No matter how many times I return to this book, something new always stands out: a delightful quip or a reference I didn’t catch before. This is the ultimate comfort read and it never fails to cheer me up.”

Kaley, Quail Ridge Books

Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and We Were Liars, All Eyes on Her by L.E. Flynn is a gripping young adult thriller told from the perspective of everyone except the alleged killer—a seventeen-year-old girl.

You heard the story on the news. A girl and a boy went into the woods. The girl carried a picnic basket. The boy wore bright yellow... Read more »

The original audiobook edition of the acclaimed novel, read by the author! The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, has sold more than one million copies and is the only novel ever to win both the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medal.Nobody Owens is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from... Read more »

Talking to Strangers

“This is an audio experience. Malcolm Gladwell talks about it a bit in the beginning. He chose to use audio recordings of interviews, etc., wherever available instead of just reading the quotes himself. There’s music spattered throughout. It’s kind of a book/podcast. It is not just a direct reading of the text. Also, Malcolm Gladwell has a soothing voice but covers some unsettling topics, so you can definitely listen to this one and not fall asleep. I won’t say I enjoyed this book, because how can you enjoy something that talks about all the unpleasant side effects of misinterpreting interactions with strangers? But it was incredibly interesting. We hear about what went wrong with Amanda Knox, the Brock Turner trial, and Sandra Bland, amidst many other examples. I love books like this that examine psychology through real life things. I definitely feel like I learned something from Talking to Strangers, and for me, that’s really the best way to judge a nonfiction title.”

Anna, Katy Budget Books

The Name of the Wind

“The Name of the Wind is a very straightforward book which you absolutely should not take at face value just because of its upfront nature. Rothfuss builds a slow burn fantasy narrative meant to keep you warm throughout dark nights of literary pursuits, rather than a showy bonfire that burns through all its material in order to hook you. Kvothe, the focal point of the story, is a character study in noticing subtle contrasts. However, the story Kvothe tells is always cordial, and Poedhl's mellow reading only lends itself to enhancing the obliging chronicle. A beneficial factor given the hefty size of Rothfuss' debut novel, a factor which can scare away the faint of heart or the light on time. It is well worth the effort, and ultimately a rewarding reading and listening experience.”

Rayne, The Liberty Book Company

John Dies at the End is a genre-bending, humorous account of two college drop-outs inadvertently charged with saving their small town—and the world—from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions.Stop.You should not have touched this flyer with your bare hands.No, don’t put it down. It’s too late. They’re watching you.My name is David Wong.... Read more »

Recursion

“As soon as I saw Blake Crouch’s name, I scooped this book up. As a huge fan of Dark Matter, I knew I was in for a treat. In his newest, Crouch quickly reveals the cause of the ‘fake memories’ that are plaguing the population, but the twists and thrills just keep coming. I haven’t been this satisfied with a book in a long time. Hitting and exceeding all of my expectations, this one will be hard to beat as my favorite book of the year.”

Mary Salazar, The Country Bookshop

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 »

The Island

“The Island by Adrian McKinty is one wild ride of a thriller! McKinty maintains a fast pace and menacing tone throughout. The American tourist heroine is surprisingly tough and resourceful protecting her family in the face of what seem like impossible odds on a remote Australian island inhabited by a less than a hospitable clan living by their own harsh rules. Great vacation read, as long as you're not going to remote Australia!”

Genevieve, A Great Good Place for Books

One of the most beloved children's books of all time and the inspiration for a feature film, a television miniseries, and a Broadway musical, The Secret Garden is the best-known work of Frances Hodgson Burnett. In this unforgettable story, three children find healing and friendship in a magical forgotten garden on the haunting Yorkshire moors. Read more »

Norse Mythology

“With a voice like warm milk and honey, Neil Gaiman breathes life into his stories Norse Mythology honors the tale’s past, but still has Neil’s distinctive style. Which is then enhanced by Gaiman reading the story aloud. Gaiman is able to create distinct voices for each of his characters, from the sly and cunning Loki, to the short-tempered, impatient warrior Thor. Gaiman took mythology that I already loved, created something even more enchanting. It is a collection of stories I could hear time after time and never grow tired of revisiting.”

Victoria, Mysterious Galaxy Books

Cursed

“This magical retelling of Arthurian legend takes readers into a world they may not recognize where fae and human live side by side though neither is trusting of the other. Join Nimue a young fae girl with a huge destiny. Together she and sell-sword Arthur will set out on a quest to find the ancient wizard Merlin and deliver to him the sword of power. But fanatic red paladins are after the sword too and they'll stop at nothing to keep Nimue from her Destiny. Narrated by Katherine Langford, the actress portraying Nimue in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.”

Sarah, Oregon Books & Games

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only... Read more »

The weight of glory is a happy burden. Thus God is the happiest Being in the Universe. To know Him in His pleasures is to see Him as He is- and to have a fresh encounter with His transforming presence. If you are hungry for this deep delight, consider the gladness of His great heart. The things that make God glad are the measures of His... Read more »