March's Bookseller Picks

A Recommended Read from: The Los Angeles Times * Town and Country * The Seattle Times * Publishers Weekly * Lit Hub * Crime Reads * AlmaFrom the author of The Real Lolita and editor of Unspeakable Acts, the astonishing story of a murderer who conned the people around him—including conservative thinker William F. Buckley—into helping set him... Read more »

Longlisted for The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize

A “poignantly rendered and illuminating” (The Washington Post) coming-of-age story about “the ways in which family, grief, love, queerness, and vulnerability all intersect” (Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author). Perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The... Read more »

If you enjoyed She Who Became the Sun, then you’ll love Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

“Where do I even begin with this book? The Daughter of the Moon Goddess is an enchanting, atmospheric, romantic fantasy that has captured my heart, mind, and soul. The story of Xingyin is one of sacrifice, determination, and love set in a rich world inspired by Chinese myths with fierce monsters, fiercer friends, and formidable immortals. Xingyin is the daughter of Chang'e, the goddess exiled to the moon - she will do anything to save her mother from the punishment placed upon her by the Immortal Emperor. Her quest finds her amid palace and soldier life, befriending the crown prince, the esteemed soldier of the Celestial Army, and making a name for herself through her skills in archery. This is one of the best books I have read in quite a long time!...As I closed the last few pages of this book, I left a part of myself between the lines, sitting with Xingyin in the palace on the moon, dreaming of what's to come.”

Anna, The Well-Read Moose

Notes on an Execution

“When the book opens, we meet the murderer Ansel Packer in his jail cell, 12 hours from execution. In the next chapter, he is a toddler in 1973 and we learn about his origins. At that chapter, I was hooked! As the book progresses, everything we learn about Ansel is from the point of view of the women in his life: his mother, his wife, and—my favorite—an 11-year-old girl who was in the foster care system with him. This is such an interesting exploration into the mind of a murderer. He feels very real, and very relatable.”

Donna, A Great Good Place for Books

These Precious Days

“I loved absolutely everything about this book and did not want it to end. Ann Patchett's narration is magical and I believe is best way to experience her writing. Though these are essays, they are expertly arranged and together feel like a memoir. Patchett talks about everything from life and death to bookstores and book covers and you immediately want to gift this book to everyone. I could not recommend it highly enough!”

Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A beautiful, arresting story about race and the relationships that shape us through life by the legendary Nobel Prize winner—for the first time in a beautifully produced stand-alone edition, with an introduction by Zadie Smith
 
“A puzzle of a story, then—a game.... When [Morrison] called Recitatif an ‘experiment’ she... Read more »

I Must Betray You

“Historical thriller set in 1989 Romania during the dictatorship of Ceausescu. From award-winning Ruta Sepetys. For adults and older teens.”

Melanie, Bookstore1Sarasota

Delilah Green Doesn't Care

“Have you ever run into someone from your childhood, someone that you thought you had all figured out and maybe even disliked, only to find out that you never really knew them at all? Then this is the book for you. Delilah Green the social pariah of her small hometown comes back to Bright Falls to photograph her uptight stepsister, Astrid's wedding. Since she has never felt welcomed by her stepfamily, her game plan is to amuse herself by pushing all of Astrid's buttons. Her plans go awry when she spots Claire (Astrid's BFF) and sparks fly. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew isn't anything like how she remembered. Well-written with wonderfully real/messy characters, vibrant and dynamic female friendships, hilarious shenanigans and a steamy tremendous sapphic romance to boot!”

Zinna, A Great Good Place for Books

Love & Saffron

“Set in both Washington state and California in the 1960s, young Joan Bergstrom strikes up a correspondence with her favorite magazine columnist and includes a small packet of saffron. So many descriptions of sumptuous feasts and tantalizing recipes are interwoven into the letters between Joan and Imogen. These two very different women become best friends through their mutual love of food and words. They cheer each other on, share secrets and dreams, and ultimately support each other through another tumultuous time in our country’s past. I was delighted by the mention of one of my favorite food writers- Elizabeth David- whose recipe for risotto alla Milanese plays a key role in changing the direction of these women's lives forever. Don't read this book hungry!! ”

Erin, Water Street Bookstore

Violeta [English Edition]

“Spanning 100 years, Isabel Allende recounts Violeta’s life in letters to her grandson. The author develops each character in Violeta’s life — children, lovers, and neighbors. This book flows easily and is hard to put down. Loved it!”

Kathy Clemmons, Sundog Books

FINALIST FOR THE GILLER PRIZE
FINALIST FOR THE ETHEL WILSON FICTION PRIZE

Bold and lyrical, sensual and highly charged, Cereus Blooms at Night is the beautifully written, sensational first novel by Shani Mootoo, one of Canada’s most exciting literary voices.
     At the core of this haunting multi-generational novel are the shifting faces of... Read more »

Birthday

“Loved this YA novel of gender alignment! Two babies "meet" at birth in the hospital and grow up as close friends with a special bond. One of them is a "typical" male; the other realizes with more and more clarity that, though born male, she is female. Predictably, she has lots of difficulties and traumas as she matures -- the "normal" growing pains plus the increasing conviction that her body just doesn't match her insides. Through the chronicling of the friends' lives (every year, from birthday to birthday, told in their alternating voices) runs the constant thread of the soulmates' lifelong friendship. Spoiler alert: it turns out well in the end! The extensive conversation at the end between the author and the audiobook narrator [who are both trans women] is worth the price of the audiobook. Open, honest, soul-baring, and replete with valuable support and resources, the interview itself could be a life-changing resource for someone with gender questions and confusions.”

Cathy, Tattered Cover

Cold

“I read this YA murder mystery in one sitting! Caldecott and Printz Award-winning author Mariko Tamaki delivers in this smart, dark tale narrated by the ghost of the murder victims and a curious girl who is more closely linked to him than she could know.”

Samantha, A Great Good Place for Books

The Golden Couple

“Definitely my favorite from this duo! What set this book apart from many other domestic thrillers is the fact that I sincerely felt endeared to its characters. I wanted almost everyone to be happy and safe by the book's end, even if the characters were at odds with each other at times. I also appreciated how the authors added emotional depth to the juicy mystery with themes of trauma and healing.”

Sam, Phoenix Books

In the Shadow of the Mountain

“In the Shadow of the Mountain intertwines the lives of sexual assault survivors with Vasquez-Lavado’s experience leading these survivors to summit Mount Everest. A collective story of perseverance, community, and healing.”

Clancey D'Isa, Seminary Co-op Bookstores

Honor

“This is one of those books that I didn’t want to end! It is a story of an Indian -American journalist going back to India for the first time in 20 years. She returns to cover the story of a young Hindu woman who defies tradition both by working outside the home and marrying a Muslim. The consequences for her are horrific and heartbreaking, shedding light on both the traditional treatment of women and the Muslim/Hindu conflict in India. The main character is also forced to face her complicated feelings toward the land she left as a teenager. Despite the atrocities that take place, it is also a love story on several levels with wonderful characters who I wish I could revisit in a sequel.”

Beth, A Great Good Place for Books

Off the Edge

“It's easy to look at the social and political landscape of the past few years and despair for the human race. We may feel we are entering a new dark age, a social-media-fueled fracturing that will Balkanize our nations and cultures until consensus reality vanishes entirely. Is this our fate, a new tribalism formed from Facebook echo chambers, waging an endless information war in the ashes of democracy? Well, while Off The Edge does address these fears, it does so with surprising levity. It takes us through the history of the flat earth conspiracy theory, from its cult-like origins to its recent role in the emergence of QAnon, and introduces us to fascinating figures along the way, ranging from the expectable loathsome neo-Nazis to shockingly admirable modern-day skeptics. This is its most impressive balancing act -- treating flat earth theory and the culture surrounding it with the appropriate ridicule, rather than attempting total journalistic neutrality, while also humanizing those caught up in its spin (at least, the ones who aren't overtly terrible people). The most outlandish beliefs are rooted in entirely commonplace emotions... ”

Graham, Next Chapter Booksellers

From Africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

Anwuli Okwudili prefers to be called AO. To her, these initials have always stood for Artificial Organism. AO has never really felt . . . natural, and that's... Read more »

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as... Read more »

Must Love Books

“Being an editorial assistant seems like a dream job for a book nerd. But low pay, long hours, and mundane tasks lead Nora to rethink her career path. Must Love Books is a fun read that I’ll share with family and friends!”

Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose