Joyful June Staff Picks

Take My Hand

“This novel about sexual sterilization of poor, Black, women in the American South in the early 1970s raises important and timely questions about reproductive choice and explores intersections of class, race and gender. The narrator conveys the heartfelt emotion behind the story beautifully. The characters were well-developed and complex, and the author's note at the end - not to be missed - highlighted the significant research that went in to this book. This empathetic novel is especially relevant for Saskatchewan readers who may recall that Health officials in this province apologized in 2017 to Indigenous women who experienced coercion to undergo tubal ligations as recently as 2015.”

Tracey, Turning the Tide Bookstore

Normal People

“What a treat to discover Sally Rooney! This novel stands out shining from the current onslaught of mediocre prose and less-than-suspenseful thriller plots. Normal People is the story of a relationship between two high school classmates in a small town in Ireland, and how it changes over time, through their last year of college in Dublin. Rooney’s spare and brilliant writing illuminates her insight and makes the unfolding of these two personalities completely compelling.”

Georgiana Dix Blomberg, Magnolia's Bookstore

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins and The Cold Millions comes a stunning collection about those moments when everything changes—for the better, for the worse, for the outrageous—as a diverse cast of characters bounces from Italy to Idaho, questioning their roles in life and finding inspiration in the unlikeliest...

Book of Night

“Holly Black’s adult fantasy debut is as chilling, dark, and action-packed as you’d expect. The world of shadow magic is fascinating, the story is an absolute page-turner, and Charlie is messy, clever, and completely relatable.”

Olivia Marchese, Author's Note

If you enjoyed The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, then you’ll love Remarkably Bright Creatures.

“Absolutely delightful story that is read by the perfect narrators! This is a feel good story that will have you laughing and crying. Michael Urie perfectly captures the curmudgeonly octopus's voice.”

Kristine, Buttonwood Books and Toys

A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this “bewitching and fascinating” (Tamora Pierce) retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.
 
“Walter’s spellbinding debut is for all the queer girls and women who’ve been told to keep their gifts hidden and for those yearning to defy gravity.”—O: The... Read more »

The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much... Read more »

In her new masterpiece, the author of the bestselling phenomenon Quiet reveals the power of a bittersweet outlook on life, and why we’ve been so blind to its value.
 
“Bittersweet grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go.”—BRENÉ BROWN, author of Atlas of the Heart
“Susan Cain has described and validated my existence once again!”—GLENNON DOYLE,... Read more »

How to Keep House While Drowning

“I absolutely loved the book and wanted to immediately listen to it again! I was also thrilled to be reading a book written by a Licensed Professional Counselor about cleaning of all things! This book's primary focus is mental health, and this is the lens in which cleaning is viewed from. Davis addresses trauma and how it can impact the completion of certain tasks in the home, introduces self-care kits and placing them around the house, and dedicates a portion of her book on caring for Black hair. What I think is most important about this book is its emphasis on disconnecting cleaning, morality, and identity. You are not a bad parent or person if your home is messy. Throughout the book, Davis offers and encourages self-compassionate reframing of thoughts about cleaning. She prompts the reader to reflect on where these thoughts and feelings about cleaning and its assumed connection to self-worth and competency come from. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, fatigue, depression, ADHD, or lack of support, or wish to have a healthier relationship with cleaning and yourself, I would highly recommend this book.”

R. Aimee, The Bluestocking Bookshop

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A searing, deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that traces one young woman’s journey from diagnosis to remission to re-entry into “normal” life—from the author of the Life, Interrupted column in The New York Times

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post,... Read more »

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Based on his wildly popular New Yorker piece, Thurber Prize-winner John Kenney presents a hilarious collection of love poems for, well, married people.

Full of brilliant wit, dynamic energy, and a heavy dose of reality, Love Poems for Married People takes the poetic form, turns it upside down and leaves it in the... Read more »

It takes a special person to end up in detention on the last day of school. It takes a REALLY special person to accidentally burn down the school yard while chasing a fire-breathing chipmunk.
But nothing about Valentina Salazar has ever been “normal.” The Salazars are protectors, tasked with rescuing the magical creatures who sometimes wander... Read more »

Loveboat, Taipei

“American-Chinese teenager Ever Wong finds herself unexpectedly shipped off to a summer program in Taiwan by her parents against her will to learn Mandarin and more about their culture. Though this originally seems to be the worst way to spend her summer, Ever is surprised to discover that this program is much more entertaining than she could have imagined. Loveboat, Taipei is a charming, romantic, and lovely coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen!”

Colleen, An Unlikely Story

What if you had one year to save everything you loved? ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she's frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even,... Read more »

From beloved comedian, actress, and New York Times bestselling author Tiffany Haddish comes Layla, the Last Black Unicorn, a hilarious, original book about a lovable but awkward unicorn who learns why her uniqueness is her biggest strength.

It’s not easy to fit in when you stand out. When Layla arrives for her first day of school at Unicornia,...

A hilarious and clever bath-time picture book by humorist, novelist, and TV writer Simon Rich, with illustrations by Tom Toro (How to Potty Train Your Porcupine).
 
And so begins a hilarious dip into the choppy waters of a nightly ritual that parents and children alike often dread. Filled with soapsuds, rubber duckies, and existential angst, Simon... Read more »