Picture Book Summer

“This is the tale of two Black women co-workers in the cutthroat publishing industry trying to determine if they are friends or enemies. A literary fiction tale with a side of suspense, this expertly woven critique on society is bound to keep readers on the edge of their seats.”

“Much like Taddeo’s Three Women, this novel is not for the prudish or for people who like their women to be silent or demure. If you are looking for originality, sexiness, or fearlessness in your next read, this is the book for you. Grab the reins and be prepared for a ride!”

“This ode to Malibu in the 1980s is the perfect beach read. Four famous siblings throw a star-studded party and over the course of 24 hours find their lives changed forever. It’s enthralling and layered and so vivid it could be a memory. Perfectly paced and suspenseful from page one!”

“With references to Greek Mythology and ancient ritualized sacrifices this sinister thriller is a great listen.”

“These stories about human relationships range from those between lovers, friends, and family. How is it that Taylor can write so that we can see the interior crevices of these characters’ souls?”

“On the surface, this is a story about a woman befriending a fox, which is in and of itself remarkable enough, but it is also a powerful meditation on nature, living in the world with and without people, as well as the power of literature.”

“Elle and her family gather each summer at the ‘Paper Palace’ family cabins; but this one day will be anything but a relaxing vacation retreat. This will be the buzz of book clubs and a perfect traveling companion for summers by the seaside.”

“Katie Kitamura's Intimacies details a few months in the life of an interpreter at The Hague who is looking for belonging to a place and perhaps to a partner. Just as she has to see beyond the words in her work, she has to interpret the actions of her married lover as well as the alleged atrocities of a war criminal she works with at the International Court. This novel is both quiet and thrilling.”

“Was life so different in 1964, 1985, 2013? This life-changing, time-traveling book within a book that explores the struggle of being a Black 14 year old in Mississippi. Laymon highlights the themes that matter most (family, love, the written word) and the racism that permeates the South - it never really goes away as the years go on, it just takes on different forms in its various cycles. This book is beautiful, thought provoking, and absolutely necessary.”

“Mona Awad's latest, All's Well, is unhinged. But it's 2021, and after the last year, I think it's safe to say we all feel a little unhinged. I found myself delighted to be in the company of Awad's narrator, a woman with chronic pain who is hell-bent on staging a production of Shakespeare's All's Well with a troupe of mutinous undergrads. Awad has written a novel about pain that is not only funny, but heartbreakingly honest. ”

“One, Two, and Three—the names triplets Mab, Monday, and Mirabel—have for each other—are atypical 16-year-old high school girls. Born to a newly-widowed mother in a New England town polluted by a local chemical plant, their mission in life is to support their mother's fight, to prove Belsen Chemical's guilt. When heirs to the plant arrive in town the girls determine to find the evidence their mom needs to win the case. Laurie Frankel tempers her novel of social justice with generous humor and a deep compassion for the three, and the readers infuse the sisters with their unique voices. It's easy to follow who's speaking in this dialogue-rich recording, and listeners will soon know and cheer these brave and savvy young women.”