K. J. Charles
[isbn]
If you like M/M historical romance and haven't discovered the wonder that is K. J. Charles, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen is a great place to dive in. Joss Doomsday, head of a smuggling clan, meets Gareth Inglis, newly minted baronet. Gareth is a newcomer to Romney Marsh and discovers that life on the marsh is a whole different ball of wax than living in a city. Full of adventure, intrigue, and delicious banter, The Secret... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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India Holton
[isbn]
It takes a near genius to write a silly, frothy, comedic romance novel I can actually enjoyably read. India Holton's third entry in the Dangerous Damsels series was every bit as restoring as a strong cup of tea accompanied by shortbread. In other words, nearly perfect. Secret agents Alice and Daniel are sent on an undercover mission where they must pretend to be married. Flying houses, lots of explosions, and a generous helping of bonkers hijinks... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ashley Poston
[isbn]
Clementine is an ambitious publicist for a small but prestigious publisher. She's trying to settle into the apartment she inherited from her aunt. One hot summer day she finds a man standing in her kitchen with intentions of cooking dinner. Her aunt always said there was something odd about the apartment. If you loved Poston's first adult title, Dead Romantics, you will devour The Seven Year Slip.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ann Leckie
[isbn]
Before there was Murderbot, there was Breq, the AI protagonist of Leckie’s Ancillary Justice, which caused a genderfuss when it was first published in 2013. Breq is non-gendered and the default pronoun for much of society in that civilization is “she,” regardless of gender. Four years later, All Systems Red, the first Murderbot novella, was published. In the space of four years, awareness of gender fluidity expanded.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Patrick Rothfuss
[isbn]
The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, who grows up in a nomadic troupe of players, the Edema Ruh, where he learns the fundamentals of magic, music, and the dramatic arts. After years as a penniless orphan in Tarbean, he eventually attends the University, where he narrowly avoids expulsion several times. Kvothe is brilliant, full of panache and daring, but certainly not exempt from suffering or heartbreak. The genius of The... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Sangu Mandanna
[isbn]
Okay, so you’ve read all of TJ Klune, Becky Chambers, T. Kingfisher — but there has to be something else, right? You are in luck, because The Secret Society of Very Irregular Witches is exactly the book you need. Mika is a South Asian witch who is mysteriously summoned to a house hidden in the countryside to tutor three young girls in controlling their magic. Found family, a cranky librarian, and a car whose interior magically expands... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Julia Whelan
[isbn]
Julia Whelan returns with her second novel, Thank You For Listening, which is every bit the gift that her work as audiobook narrator is. The novel focuses on two audiobook narrators, Sewanee and Brock, and the story of their relationship. Whelan’s dialogue, pacing, and sense of humor are topnotch. This is a standout offering amid a sea of rom-coms.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Juno Dawson
[isbn]
Four women who are witches and friends since childhood have radically differing ideas about a young, powerful warlock. Is he a threat, someone who needs training, or all of the above? Gender politics are front and center here, and race, class, and power dynamics all affect their actions and choices and are central to the outcome.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Lydia Conklin
[isbn]
Stories focusing on queer characters and pivotal moments in their relationships. Conklin deftly captures both the sweetness and strangeness the heart contains.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Sascha Stronach
[isbn]
A biopunk noir with lots of pirates and magic that isn't called magic, The Dawnhounds is a heady brew of fungus and the story of Yat, a former thief turned police officer. Recently demoted for her "unnatural activities" (frequenting a queer bar), Yat is murdered one night, returned to life, and then things get really interesting.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Joy Harjo
[isbn]
Adroitly combining poetry and prose, Harjo details her journey from leaving home as a teenager to escape abuse to becoming a celebrated poet and teacher. Compassionate, wise, and lyrical, Poet Warrior details Harjo's love of words and her deep connection with the world around her.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Questlove
[isbn]
A fascinating look at the connections between music and history, filled with lists, personal anecdotes, and a wide-ranging collection of music. Questlove chooses one song for each year and then comments on his choice. His encyclopedic knowledge of musical history makes this a fun and informative read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Susan Orlean
[isbn]
From tigers as household pets to show dogs, backyard chickens, and one very famous whale, Orlean is in fine form in this collection of essays detailing our various relationships to animals. As always, her prose is insightful, informative, and full of incisive metaphors.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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TJ Klune
[isbn]
Wallace Price is a nasty, heartless workaholic who unexpectedly dies of a heart attack. Afterlife for him is neither heaven nor hell, but a tea shop called Charon's Crossing run by Hugo, who makes a kickass cup of tea, but also helps people to cross over. Under the Whispering Door is TJ Klune in fine form: tender, romantic, terrifying, and full of heart.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ryka Aoki
[isbn]
Refugees from another solar system running a donut shop, a violin teacher who needs one last soul to harvest for hell, and a young trans runaway violinist are all magnificently blended together in Ryka Aoki's superb and heartwarming Light From Uncommon Stars. The descriptions of food and music are especially good, and you'll certainly be craving donuts before the book ends.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Carrot Quinn
[isbn]
Jumping between her childhood in Alaska and time spent traveling across the country via hopping trains, Carrot Quinn’s book is searing, gut-wrenching, and deeply nomadic. Whether she’s writing about her mother or about how to hop a freight train, Quinn’s prose is evocative, direct, and eloquent.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Cherie Dimaline
[isbn]
Joan’s husband has been missing for a year when she sees a man who looks and sounds like him, but he keeps insisting he is someone else. With a cast of quirky and idiosyncratic characters, Joan sets out to discover what happened to her husband, and why.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Laura Van Den Berg
[isbn]
Powerful short stories from Laura van den Berg, each centered around a pivotal moment in the life of a woman. These stories are unsettling, slightly off-kilter, and filled with an urgent sadness. A polished and haunting collection filled with the unexpected.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Octavia E. Butler
[isbn]
We don’t shelve Parable of the Sower in the Horror section here at Powell’s, but this book scares the holy crap out of me. Although it first appeared in 1993, this smoldering gem of a dystopia reads like it was written recently. You could say this was Octavia Butler’s masterpiece, and you wouldn’t be wrong.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Leslie Jamison
[isbn]
We are definitely living in the Golden Age of Essays. There’s a wealth of authors to choose from and a myriad of viewpoints. Leslie Jamison is among the best, starting with her 2014 Empathy Exams, and Make It Scream, Make it Burn is another fascinating collection from a top-notch author.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Bethany C. Morrow
[isbn]
Set partially in Portland, A Chorus Rises is Naema's story, a young Black woman with magical powers. She travels to the Southwest for a family reunion and to get away from the repercussions of being an influencer. A rich mix of fantasy and social justice.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Paula McLain
[isbn]
Suspenseful and edgy, Paula McLain's When the Stars Go Dark is a gripping mystery that centers around a missing child case and a detective struggling with her past. Beautifully written, filled with heartbreak and redemption, When the Stars Go Dark will haunt you long after the last page.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Helen Macdonald
[isbn]
Helen Macdonald returns with an essay collection centered on our relationship to the world around us. Whether she’s discussing migration patterns, mushroom hunting, or returning to her childhood stomping grounds, MacDonald paints an eloquent and illuminating portrayal of the natural world.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Katherine Addison
[isbn]
Katherine Addison returns to the world of The Goblin Emperor and to the pivotal character of Thara Celehar. Celehar is a Witness for the Dead, able to contact the recently deceased. Celehar lives far from the court and its politics, but intrigue and politics continue to follow him. When a missing woman is found in the river, Celehar is called in. Tightly plotted and packed full of unforgettable characters, Witness for the Dead... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Aiden Thomas
[isbn]
A skilled deep dive into trauma and responses to trauma, Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling set in Astoria. Wendy's brothers have been missing for years and suddenly other children in town start to disappear. The suspense never lets up in this tightly paced and riveting tale.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Kristin Cashore
[isbn]
Kristin Cashore returns to the realm of Graceling and Queen Bitterblue. Set in the neighboring land of Torla, in a nation filled with telepathic foxes and airships, Winterkeep is filled with Cashore's gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ada Calhoun
[isbn]
An exploration of the political and cultural milieu that Gen X women find themselves immersed in. Ada Calhoun deftly outlines the factors that contribute to the unique situation that Gen X women inhabit.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Tracy Deonn
[isbn]
16-year-old Bree Matthews is living away from home for the first time. She’s dealing with the loss of her mother, and enrolled in a highly competitive academic program. I’ve always been fascinated by Arthurian retakes, but I haven’t read anything lately quite as brilliant as Legendborn. Deonn combines Southern Black culture and history, Arthurian myths, inherited trauma, grief, and more. The result is a smart, sharp urban fantasy that... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Tina Ontiveros
[isbn]
A memoir of growing up in the Northwest, living below the federal poverty line, with a father who was larger than life, sometimes abusive, and always a force to be reckoned with. One of the things I really loved about this book was how it illuminated new corners of the Northwest — towns I’d never heard of, places I’ve only passed through. Ontiveros’s love of the natural world comes shining through. I also loved her refusal to reduce her father to... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Cait Flanders
[isbn]
Cait Flanders follows up The Year of Less with Adventures in Opting Out, a guide to navigating the road less traveled. I always feel better after I read Cait Flanders; there’s something about her mix of practicality and truth-telling that both soothes and inspires me. Interviews with fellow travelers, anecdotes, and sound wisdom make this a fast and inspirational read. 2020 has been filled with all sorts of intentional and... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Jennifer De Leon and Elena Garnu
[isbn]
Lili doesn’t know where her father is, and she’s been unexpectedly accepted to a prestigious school, mostly white and upper-class. As she’s adjusting to her new school, she finds out that her parents are undocumented immigrants and that her father has been deported. Debut author De Leon skillfully navigates issues of racial identity, immigration, and social justice.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Nnedi Okorafor
[isbn]
Nnamdi tries to find out who killed his father, the former chief of police. A gift from his father’s ghost imbues him with superpowers which Nnamdi uses to enact vigilante justice, rooting out corruption in his village. Set in southeastern Nigeria, and full of vibrant and colorful characters, Ikenga is a delightful read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Joy Harjo and Leanne Howe and Jennifer Foerster
[isbn]
Spanning centuries and containing poems from more than 90 tribal nations, this anthology is divided into five geographic regions, each introduced with an essay. United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo has compiled a rich and varied tapestry for readers to enjoy for years to come.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Mitchell Jackson
[isbn]
Survival Math is a brilliant memoir told in a unique and powerful voice. Jackson explores his family history, the history of Portland, and the larger issues that surrounded his childhood. “Survival math” refers to the hard economic choices he and his family made in one the whitest cities in America. Jackson’s eloquent and mesmerizing prose makes this a standout read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Neil Gaiman and Elise Hurst
[isbn]
The gorgeously evocative illustrations of Elise Hurst fill Gaiman’s work with an eerie and haunting mood that perfectly complements the text. Upon returning to his childhood home, the narrator finds that everything and nothing is quite the way he remembers. Or is it?
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Liane Moriarty
[isbn]
Nine strangers meet at a health spa in a remote part of Australia. Moriarty works her magic once again, with empathetic characterization, taut narrative, and heart-pounding suspense. Meet the washed-up romance novelist, the family of three, and the rest of this disparate group.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Liz Phair
[isbn]
Always integrating her life into art, Horror Stories is Liz Phair’s collection of heartfelt and candid essays. She reflects on key moments that have continued to linger in her memory: her grandmother’s death, giving birth, and others.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Thor Hanson
[isbn]
Both informative and readable, Buzz is a fascinating deep dive into the world of bees. Thor Hanson adeptly tours us through the history and mythology of the bee.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Leigh Bardugo
[isbn]
Leigh Bardugo’s adult debut is an immersive, heart-pounding, brain-twisting read set in an alternate New Haven. Alex Stern’s connection to Yale’s secret societies may be more dangerous than she bargained for. Drenched in magic and darkness, this world will clench you between its bony fingers until the end.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Lonely Planet
[isbn]
Lonely Planet’s latest entry in their Epic series, Epic Runs is chock-full of gorgeous photos of runs across the globe and short chunks of information about them. Perfect for the aspirational runner or the seasoned race veteran, and truly a delight to peruse.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
[isbn]
Faith Erin Hicks and Rainbow Rowell team up for Pumpkinheads, a sweet and entertaining graphic novel. Deja wants Josiah to talk to the girl he’s been crushing on all these years. Two Pumpkin Patch veterans, one mad crush, and you have all the ingredients for a truly heartwarming and satisfying tale.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Kira Jane Buxton
[isbn]
A foul-mouthed crow and a bloodhound adventure through the wilderness of postapocalyptic Seattle fighting monsters while rescuing animals in need of help. Kira Jane Buxton’s dark sense of humor and witty narrative make Hollow Kingdom a dystopian delight.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Raymond Carver
[isbn]
In Cathedral, Carver’s third short story collection, he adds more detail and color to his bleak landscapes, and the unrelenting misery of his characters abates a bit. There’s a breath of possibility in every story, a beam of light that illuminates and pierces the heart of the reader, and it’s those moments of illumination that grab me every time I read through Cathedral.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Celeste Ng
[isbn]
Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere is the story of two families, the upper-class Richardsons and their renters, Mia and Pearl. Ng returns to the themes of her first novel — secrecy, class, privilege, and the intricacies of family life — with mesmerizing results.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Anthony McCann
[isbn]
Shadowlands is a thoughtful, nuanced account of the 2016 seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. McCann’s examination of this event is thorough, yet not bogged down by details. His vivid characterizations and willingness to grapple with the surrounding issues make this an outstanding read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Philip Pullman
[isbn]
This is Philip Pullman in top form, telling a story that holds the reader spellbound. The Book of Dust is very definitely an English fantasy. It reminds me strongly of Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising, only with more bite. The characters are satisfyingly drawn, the plot sufficiently tense, and the conclusion does not disappoint. I was happily swept along by the inexorable current of Pullman’s narrative.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Rebecca Roanhorse
[isbn]
No sophomore jinx here: Storm of Locusts is every bit the thrilling read that Trail of Lightning was. We get to see more of the Sixth World, meet some new characters who are alternately hilarious and terrifying, and go on an adrenaline-filled adventure with Maggie and company. Everything works smoothly here: world-building, plot, and characters, adding up to a humdinger of a sequel.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Heather B. Armstrong
[isbn]
Gripped by a serious depression, Armstrong chose to participate in a clinical trial where she was put into a chemically induced coma that mimicked brain death (10 times!). The Valedictorian is her frank, fascinating retelling of the outrageous experiment that fundamentally changed her.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Oliver Sacks
[isbn]
Journey once more with the master as he ruminates with wisdom and compassion on a variety of subjects, ranging from Spalding Gray to ferns, swimming, schizophrenia, and much more.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Tamsyn Muir
[isbn]
A Very Gothic Queer science fantasy, this will have you giggling and awestruck at Gideon’s snark, and the delicious train wreck that is her relationship with Harrowhawk. Heavy on the skulls, necromancy, and the suspense, and lots of black clothing. All Gideon wants is to escape the confines of the Ninth House, but things don’t go quite as planned, and so a reluctant adventure with Harrowhawk begins.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Hannah Shaw
[isbn]
If you’ve ever wondered what the various colors of kitten poop mean, wonder no more. Hannah Shaw has fostered hundreds of kittens, and distilled her experience into a useful guide. Solid, practical advice is punctuated by anecdotes and pictures of the adorable kittens that have passed through her capable hands. Want more Kitten Lady? You can find her on Instagram @kittenxlady and also on YouTube.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Arkady Martine
[isbn]
Think Le Carré set in space. Mahit Dzmare is a newly arrived ambassador who discovers her predecessor was murdered. Full of intrigue, richly textured world building, and tinged with an elegant sort of sadness, A Memory of Empire is a cracking good read. Arkady Martine is a Byzantine historian and an urban planner and the juxtaposition of those two disciplines mixed with political intrigue makes for mesmerizing reading.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Chloe Benjamin
[isbn]
New York, 1969: Four siblings visit a psychic and learn the day they will die. They keep the dates secret from each other, but the psychic's prophecy affects each of them in very different ways. Brimming with insight and love, The Immortalists is sure to mesmerize.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Melissa Albert
[isbn]
Creepy and suspenseful, The Hazel Wood is the story of Alice, her mother Ella, and a book of dark fairy tales that just might be true. When Ella disappears and characters from the stories begin to appear, Alice may find more than she bargained for.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Sophia Shalmiyev
[isbn]
Lyrical and raw, Mother Winter is Sophia Shalmiyev’s exploration of leaving Russia with her father at age 11, and of her relationship with her absent mother. Filled with hard-won insight, Shalmiyev’s prose is both searing and meditative.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Daniel H. Pink
[isbn]
Timing isn't everything, but it might be more important than you think. Daniel Pink’s When combines insight from psychology, biology, and economics, along with helpful tips and tricks to help you maximize your day. Pink never fails to educate and entertain.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ursula K Le Guin
[isbn]
A lively and engrossing collection of blog posts ranging from an encounter with a rattlesnake to a discussion of Homer and Joyce. Whatever the subject, Le Guin’s elegant prose is always a joy to read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Cait Flanders
[isbn]
More of a memoir than a guidebook, The Year of Less is a deep dive into what happens when you take a giant step away from consumerism. Cait Flanders paid off $30K of debt, and then imposed a year-long shopping ban. She chronicles her journey with unflinching honesty and careful self-examination.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Nathaniel Philbrick
[isbn]
Philbrick’s third volume on the American Revolution focuses on the pivotal naval battles that turned the tides of the war. A lively and riveting account of George Washington, Lafayette, and many other key historical figures, Philbrick's illumination of this critical year in America's youth is meticulously researched and beautifully written.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Erica Dawson
[isbn]
Dawson’s third book is a book-length poem, exploring what it is to be black, to be a woman, and to be living in today’s world. She deftly incorporates poetic forms and free verse into a work that sings, shouts, and mesmerizes.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Tara Westover
[isbn]
Educated tells both the story of how Tara Westover grew up, with no birth certificate, no formal schooling, living in rural Idaho, and how she left, not just physically, but how she reclaimed her mind, her view of the world, and her sense of self. It is unbelievable to me that someone could raise their children this way, and even more miraculous that several of them broke free. It is one thing to leave home, but entirely another to leave... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Anne Helen Petersen
[isbn]
From Serena Williams to Hillary Clinton, Petersen explores an array of famous women who continue to redefine and reshape our ideas about what it means to be a female icon.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Beth Macy
[isbn]
Macy blends investigative journalism with a hard-hitting narrative to illustrate how the opioid crisis began, and how dealers, drug companies, first responders, and families are woven together in a tapestry of heartbreak and devastation.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Leslie Jamison
[isbn]
Jamison is a remarkable essayist, keen-eyed, observant, and astute. The opening piece centers on her stint as a medical actor and expands into a thoughtful rumination on what exactly empathy is. From prison, to the world’s toughest marathon, heartbreak, and James Agee, these essays are filled with a liveliness and intellectual vigor that makes for an engaging read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Andrew Solomon
[isbn]
Far From the Tree is the kind of book that fundamentally alters the way you see the world and your place in it. Each chapter is centered around a different horizontal identity, such as dwarfism, autism, and deafness. Solomon interviewed hundreds of people, assembling a staggering amount of information and narrative, but it is his ability to synthesize and summarize that elevates Far From the Tree into something extraordinary.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Phil Knight
[isbn]
Phil Knight chronicles his journey from selling shoes out of the trunk of his Plymouth to becoming one of the wealthiest people in the world. Entertaining, touching, and crammed with insight, Shoe Dog is the story of how a band of eccentric misfits built one of the biggest athletic apparel companies in the world.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ursula K Le Guin
[isbn]
Not only is The Left Hand of Darkness a masterpiece of ideas, invention, and language, but it takes conventional assumptions about gender and grinds them into a fine, powdery dust. Published in 1969, the book won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards and went on to become one of the keystones of science fiction. It tells the story of an ethnologist sent to another planet, but it is Le Guin's powers of imagination that turn The Left Hand of... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Tomi Adeyemi
[isbn]
Everything changes when magic disappears from Orisha, but fate sets its restoration in motion: a runaway princess, her magic-hating brother, and a girl with a powerful heritage team up to restore magic to their world. Richly imagined and filled with complex characters, Children of Blood and Bone is a stunner.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Elizabeth Acevedo
[isbn]
A novel written in verse, Poet X is the story of a Dominican American girl growing up in Harlem who writes poems. An invitation to join the school’s slam poetry club highlights the cultural differences between her family and the world she is drawn to.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell
[isbn]
Told in four related parts, The Tangled Lands is a gripping story of resistance set in the last city of a crumbling empire, run by a tyrant and his henchman. They attempt to gather all the magic for themselves, but are met with an uprising.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Maggie O'Farrell
[isbn]
Maggie O’Farrell is no stranger to nearly dying, but when her daughter is diagnosed with a rare immunological disorder, surviving various deadly perils becomes an everyday occurrence. Beautifully written, I Am, I Am, I Am recounts 17 close calls with death, and how those experiences have shaped her.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Fredrik Backman
[isbn]
The residents of Beartown have one last chance to revitalize their town’s economy: their amazing junior hockey team. Will they win and save the town? Will conflict pull the team apart, or will an unlikely hero emerge? Once again, Backman gives us a gripping tale with characters we love to root for.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Jo Nesbo
[isbn]
Harry Hole is happily retired from police work, but luckily for fans of this series, his retirement is short-lived. There’s a terrifyingly bloody killer on the loose who seems oddly familiar, and only Harry can stop him. Meanwhile, the chief of police wants this case wrapped up quickly to aid his political ambitions.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Omar El Akkad
[isbn]
A second American civil war fought over fossil fuel, a horrific plague, and a young girl trained as a runner and an insurrectionist are the key ingredients that make up this dystopian masterpiece from journalist Omar El Akkad. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Station Eleven.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Daniel H. Pink
[isbn]
Timing isn't everything, but it might be more important than you think. Daniel Pink’s When combines insight from psychology, biology, and economics, along with helpful tips and tricks to help you maximize your day. Pink never fails to educate and entertain.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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James Gleick
[isbn]
From H. G. Wells to Back to the Future, time travel has long been a part of our cultural milieu. Gleick offers a joyful and delightfully digressive riff that touches on many aspects and implications of time travel, including the hazy intersection of physics and fiction.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Candice Millard
[isbn]
Millard gives us the fascinating story of Churchill’s escape from a prison camp. With nothing but four bars of chocolate and a handful of cash, he made his way to safety. Lively and thoroughly readable, this account of young Churchill during the Boer War is an illuminating glimpse into his early career.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Lily Brooks Dalton
[isbn]
An astronomer in the Arctic and an astronaut returning from Jupiter are faced with a catastrophic event and must struggle to survive. Good Morning Midnight is a haunting tale told in gorgeous, shimmering prose that pulls the reader deep into its postapocalyptic clutches.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Amy Tan
[isbn]
In Where the Past Begins, Tan shares her memories of growing up, family secrets, and how emotional truth and fiction comingle. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to her work, Tan’s unforgettable prose and wry sense of humor make this a can’t-miss read.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Atul Gawande
[isbn]
A compassionate look at how the medical industry currently handles aging, terminal illness, and end-of-life issues. Often medical professionals ignore quality of life, or a person's overall well-being, in favor of more treatments. There are no easy answers, but our reluctance to address these issues has not helped us to make more informed choices.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Kat Howard
[isbn]
A fast-paced and thrilling magical adventure, full of duels, betrayals, and dark secrets, An Unkindness of Magicians is deeply absorbing and compelling. Magic is fading and losing its power, despite the immense sacrifices being made on its behalf. Can balance be restored, or will magic be lost forever?
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Roxane Gay
[isbn]
In Roxane Gay’s Hunger, she details the horrific abuse that was the catalyst for her weight gain and outlines clearly and painfully what it means to be a woman of size in today’s world. It is both an admission of how her size has kept her safe, and how it has imprisoned her. She perfectly captures the strange mix of visibility and invisibility that she faces as a sizable woman living here and now.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Mary Karr
[isbn]
First published in 1995, The Liars' Club is Mary Karr’s account of growing up in an East Texas oil town with an alcoholic father prone to gambling and a mother who had several psychotic episodes. Her childhood was more than slightly dysfunctional, but Karr offers the reader a plethora of darkly comic episodes that help to balance the narrative. Funny and heartbreaking, what truly sets this book apart is Karr’s exquisite and precise prose... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Gabriel Tallent
[isbn]
Turtle is a 14-year-old girl who lives with her abusive survivalist father in a falling-down house near Mendocino, California. Beautifully written, harrowing, and filled with vivid descriptions of the wild coastal landscape, My Absolute Darling is a powerhouse of a novel that will sear itself into your very soul.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Joan Didion
[isbn]
In 2003, Joan Didion suddenly lost her husband of 40 years, while their daughter lay unconscious in a nearby hospital. The Year of Magical Thinking is a powerful and eloquent account of surviving such a profound loss. Didion is especially effective at describing the emotional landscape of grief, its sudden depth charges and vortexes, as she calls those unexpected moments when loss sweeps in from yet another angle.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Samantha Hunt
[isbn]
Imaginative and feral, Samantha Hunt’s first book of short stories is full of hidden things, of murk and twilight. Haunting and eloquent, sprinkled with Hunt’s trademark splashes of wry humor, The Dark Dark is the perfect companion for a long summer afternoon.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Michael Robbins
[isbn]
Poetry and pop music are what poet Michael Robbins weaves together, mashes up, and spins into a great web of a book. Robbins has the ability to find common ground between two seemingly disparate topics, and makes grouping them together seem completely obvious.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Sarah Sentilles
[isbn]
Sarah Sentilles’s arresting book is a pastiche of many disciplines that examine art and war, and how making art is one response to war. She grapples with what our reaction to violence should be, and what impact one person’s actions can have, situating this examination within a historical context.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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David Baron
[isbn]
A fascinating look into the total solar eclipse of 1878 and the lives of three scientists who traveled to witness the rare event. Baron paints this moment in American history in full color, complete with train robberies, rival astronomers, and Thomas Edison and his newest invention, the tasimeter.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Paula Hawkins
[isbn]
A spooky, watery gem of a thriller, told from multiple points of view. After her sister’s unexpected death, Jules reluctantly returns to the village where she grew up to care for her niece. Was her sister’s death an accident? Suicide? Paula Hawkins brings us another rich, darkly atmospheric tale that twists and turns in a most satisfying manner.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Anne Lamott
[isbn]
Anne Lamott returns with a lively and funny exploration of mercy, which she defines as radical kindness to both yourself and others. Always wise and laugh-out-loud funny, Anne Lamott reminds us that "kindness towards others, beginning with myself, buys us a shot at a warm and generous heart, the greatest prize of all.”
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Drew Brockington
[isbn]
There’s trouble on Earth and the CatStronauts are here to save the day! They’re off to the Moon to build a solar power plant while having lots of fun during their trip. What could be better than cats having adventures in space?
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Mary Karr
[isbn]
The author of several bestselling memoirs gives us a look under the hood. What makes a successful memoir? How does one handle the wily beast of memory? Karr elegantly dissects several well-known memoirs and gives clear examples of why they work so well. She also discusses her own work and writing process.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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David George Haskell
[isbn]
A thorough investigation into a dozen trees and the biological communities they are a part of. Haskell beautifully details the complicated relationships these living organisms share. From a pear tree on a Manhattan sidewalk to a towering giant in the Amazon, we learn that wildness is everywhere.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
Since his mother’s death, Magnus Chase has been living on the streets of Boston, staying mostly out of trouble until the day he learns he is the son of a Norse god. There’s a sword that needs to be found, a band of fire giants in hot pursuit, and an intriguing cast of characters.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Ariel Levy
[isbn]
In October of 2012, Ariel Levy was pregnant, married, a homeowner, and financially stable. One month later, none of those things were true. This remarkable memoir is the story of her life’s sudden disintegration and how she rebuilt it from scratch. Levy’s exploration of grief’s underbelly is searing.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Chynna Clugston Flores, Rosemary Valero OConnell, Maddi Gonzalez
[isbn]
What could be better than the Gotham Academy kids teaming up with the Lumberjanes? A teacher from Gotham Academy is missing, and the Lumberjanes are searching for their missing camp director. Could these disappearances be related? Add a sinister building deep in the woods, a mysterious happening or two, and you’ve got a grand adventure.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Krista Tippett
[isbn]
Krista Tippett, host of the public radio program On Being, distills the wisdom she has heard and experienced into a thoughtful exploration of the things that challenge us, and the things that comfort us along the way. Without oversimplifying, she returns to what we have in common, what we all share in the grand adventure of life.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Fredrik Backman
[isbn]
Fredrik Backman gives us one of his most quirky and lovable characters in Britt-Marie, who has just left her marriage of 40 years and is looking for work. Things are a bit more challenging than she’d expected them to be, but she’s equal to the task.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Jason Rekulak
[isbn]
It’s 1987 and Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White is featured as Playboy’s centerfold. Three misfit teenage boys, desperate to get their hands on a copy, hatch a wild scheme involving a local convenience store. If you loved Ready Player One, don’t miss The Impossible Fortress.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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