Summer Listening from AudioFile Magazine

“The Guest Book is an exquisitely written multi-generational novel about the Milton family. They are a family of wealth and privilege. Through the generations, the money dwindles away and the last generation is faced with the only option of selling it. The house sits on its own island and holds many secrets from the past generations. The characters are multi-dimensional and the relationships are complex. The narration of this book is pitch-perfect. The reader has a graceful, soothing voice that carries a tone of good breeding. Although I am glad that I listened to this book, I often found myself wishing that I could highlight some phrases and beautifully constructed sentences. This book was a delight to my ears. Sarah Blake is an extremely gifted writer. I look forward to reading many more of her books in the future. ”

“Positively brilliant. I was completely blown away by this debut, in which 25-year-old Queenie Jenkins is navigating a lot. She recently went on break from a long-term relationship, she can’t seem to find her stride at her job with a national newspaper, and she’s constantly trying to figure out how to navigate the various components of her identity. The biggest question of all: Can’t she be loved just because, without her blackness being seen as exotic or a caveat? Candice Carty-Williams’ debut is a completely fresh voice that shines light on a literary perspective frequently overlooked — that of young, black women. An absolute must-read.”

“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.”

“Written as an oral history chronicling the astronomic rise and fall of a Fleetwood Mac-esque rock band in the late '70s, DAISY JONES & THE SIX is a gorgeous, dishy, and profound book that I devoured in something like two days. The story races like gangbusters and cuts straight to the hearts and souls of the superbly-drawn characters, who all have a lot to say about music, creativity, fame, family, love, collaboration, and (of course) sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far!”