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We hope you enjoy these recommendations from booksellers all over the country and right here at home for your next great read. And thank you for your loyal support of independent businesses — the backbone of our communities! — during this extraordinary time.
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“Happy Place is absolute magic, bottled up and delivered in the form of saccharine summer days, happiness, teary moments, and newfound longing. Emily Henry is the master of the romance novel and Happy Place is her best one yet!”
—Robin Limeres, Phoenix Books, Burlington, VT
Berkley, $27, Romance
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The Secret Book of Flora Lea
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“This book is pure magic about the power of story, the bond between sisters, hope, perseverance, mystery, and an unexpected twist. Not to be missed, it may be Patti Callahan Henry’s best yet!”
—Pam Sparks, Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument, CO
Atria Books, $28.99, Fiction
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| | “For a book that’s inhabited by androids and machines, this is one of the most human books I’ve read in a long time! Klune always creates works of art and this was no different. It’s right up there with The House in the Cerulean Sea.”
—Kristen Kessler, The Book Rack, Oak Harbor, WA
Tor Books, $28.99, Fantasy
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by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
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“Some may read this novel as a dystopian take of our current prison system, but it’s really a version of the reality we are currently living. But make no mistake: there is love and hope in these pages which we could all use right now.”
—Rosa Hernandez, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
Pantheon, $27, Fiction
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| | “A compelling, uniquely written book about the power of stories, reading, and how finding the right story at the right time can affect us. I cannot wait to share No Two Persons with all the readers at the shop.”
—Angela Sides, Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth, TX
St. Martin’s Press, $28, Fiction
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by Anne Berest,
transl. by Tina Kover
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“This family saga, about a mysterious postcard received decades after WWII, plunges a daughter and her mother into the search for the truth and their roots. I have never read a book so well-written, so engaging, so poignant, so real.”
—Marianne Reiner, La Playa Books, San Diego, CA
Europa Editions, $28, Fiction
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| | Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club
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“J. Ryan Stradal captures so much about small town life and families in his stories. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club was like sitting down at The Club back in my hometown. There’s comfort and delicious food on every page.”
—Terri LeBlanc, Swamp Fox Bookstore, Marion, IA
Pamela Dorman Books, $28, Fiction
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“Keane’s latest novel explores marriage, middle age, and dreams lost and gained. What happens when we get what we want? What happens when we don’t? A brilliant exploration on long-term relationships and how they evolve over time.”
—Stephanie Kitchen, City Lit Books, Chicago, IL
Scribner, $28, Fiction
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| | “Lehane is one of the best writers of his generation. He depicts Boston like no one else can, and the story, the characters, as well as the deep dive into the social fabric of a place make this a must read.”
—Cody Morrison, Square Books, Oxford, MS
Harper, $30, Thriller
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“Another masterpiece by the great Abraham Verghese. The Covenant of Water will beguile and charm readers who loved Cutting for Stone and will win many new readers.”
—Stephen Sparks, Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes Station, CA
Grove Press, $32, Fiction
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| | “This book embodies joy. It will cause side effects such as: pacing the room, squealing with delight, and calling your BFF. I literally vibrated with the need to share my excitement about Fizzy’s story. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever read.”
—Leah Atlee, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff, AZ
Gallery Books, $27.99, Romance
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To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
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“To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is all the things a good fantasy series opener should be — immersive, thoughtful, and captivating. This alternate history of New England and its colonization will be a hit for fans of Babel and House of the Dragon!”
—Julia DeVarti, Books Are Magic, Brooklyn, NY
Del Rey, $18 PB, Fantasy
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| | “In all her books, Bellefleur gives well-loved tropes a fresh point of view and honors what makes romance so special. The perfect book for anyone who wants a sapphic, spicy, laugh out loud romance with great characters and plenty of T-Swift!”
—Rachel Johnson, Content Bookstore, Northfield, MN
Avon, $18.99 PB, Romance
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“Shock, awe, and hilarity at a funeral start off this highly original novel. Serious topics are treated with a light enough hand to entertain, and strong characters, surprises, and intriguing family dynamics make this a great choice.”
—Patience Allan-Glick, Hills & Hamlets Bookshop, Chattahoochee Hills, GA
Celadon Books, $28, Fiction
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| | “The Wager is filled with the most questionable aspects of human nature, but is also a nod to the strength of spirit as it pertains to survival. This book is dramatic, well-researched, and perfect nonfiction that reads like fiction.”
—Stuart McCommon, Novel., Memphis, TN
Doubleday, $30, History
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“If you think you know Clytemnestra’s story, this book will surprise you. The emotional impact sneaks up on you like a summer storm — the world grows darker until lightning strikes! Brutal, visceral, layered, and so well-researched.”
—Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop, Virginia Beach, VA
Sourcebooks Landmark, $26.99, Fiction
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| | “The Ferryman was such an engrossing speculative fiction! With the flavor of The Giver at the beginning, and something entirely different by the end, Cronin comments on social class, society, and what makes us human. A must read!”
—Danica Ramgoolam, Townie Books, Crested Butte, CO
Ballantine Books, $30, Thriller
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“Khaw’s terrifying, beautiful fairy tale is drenched in horror, but under the violence and the blood, despite immeasurable loss, there’s a surprising strand of love striving to survive in an all-but-hopeless world.”
—Emma Aprile, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville, KY
Tor Nightfire, $21.99, Horror
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| | Mastering the Art of French Murder
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“Murder most foul in Paris, the city of Julia Child and her new neighbor, Tabitha Knight. While Tabitha learns to cook from Julia, she finds herself in the middle of a murder, and the weapon is one of Julia's prized knives!”
—Tina Greene-Bevington, Bay Books, Suttons Bay, MI
Kensington, $27, Mystery
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“I was totally invested in Fern and Will’s story. A gorgeous (but struggling) lakeside resort, relationship drama, longing, and great characters make Meet Me at the Lake the perfect summer read. It will be a star on our ‘Beach Read’ table!”
—Susan Kehoe, Browseabout Books, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Berkley, $18 PB, Romance
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| | “Karin Lin-Greenberg uses a failing mall as a symbol of our society in transition, showing us tragedy and hope. Disparate characters are brought together through the mall and learn to trust the people around them. A quietly powerful novel.”
—Hannah Harlow, Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Beverly Farms, MA
Counterpoint, $27, Fiction
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“A gripping and suspenseful debut. Take one cold case, two women who are determined to discover the truth, entwine them with the voice of the victim, and you have one unforgettable and powerful read.”
—Maxwell Gregory, Madison Street Books, Chicago, IL
Tin House Books, $26.95, Thriller
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| | “The East Indian is a coming-of-age novel rife with pivotal moments and riveting wonder as Tony traverses the world and perseveres through life’s hardships; he comes out the other side a forefather in the narrative of American history.”
—Kristy Creager, Mitzi's Books, Rapid City, SD
Scribner, $28, Fiction
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“Wow! A roller coaster ride combining Dungeons and Dragons with Agatha Christie. Joshilyn Jackson continues to refine her mystery/suspense cred in this compelling whodunnit. Great for beach reading or any other time!”
—Diana Robinson, Eagle Eye Book Shop, Decatur, GA
William Morrow, $30, Thriller
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| | Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma
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“Claire Dederer tackles the timeless question of what to do with the art of monstrous men in this insightful book, through a feminist lens which critiques capitalism as well as cancel culture. A fantastic book for all who consume.”
—Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
Knopf, $28, Literary Criticism
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 The Caretakersby Amanda Bestor-Siegal“This book took me completely by surprise as it wormed its way into my heart. An absolutely stunning portrayal of motherhood, wealth, and pretense told through the interconnected stories of the women in a small French neighborhood.”
—Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books, Rogers, AR
William Morrow Paperbacks, $18.99, Fiction
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| |  Fellowship Pointby Alice Elliott Dark
“Fellowship Point was a joy to read. Alice Elliott Dark has crafted unforgettable characters in a sweeping story of friendship, family, and life as a whole. I hit pause on the real world for a bit and fell deeply in love with this gem of a novel.”
—Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield’s Books, Healdsburg, CA
S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, $20, Fiction
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 Juniper & Thornby Ava Reid“A gorgeous story influenced by one of the Brothers Grimm’s darkest tales. At the center, two souls find a haven in each other while escaping evil worse than any monster under the bed. Juniper & Thorn is bewitching and utterly captivating.”
—Tarah Jennings, Mitzi’s Books, Rapid City, SD
Harper Voyager, $18.99, Fantasy
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| |  The Many Daughters of Afong Moyby Jamie Ford“Jamie Ford explores the relationship of mind, spirit, and personal history in this gorgeous, multigenerational novel. The descendants of Afong Moy dig into their inherited pasts with astonishing results. A hopeful, beautiful read!”
—Beth Mynhier, Lake Forest Book Store, Lake Forest, IL
Atria Books, $17.99, Fiction
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 A Thousand Ways to Pay Attentionby Rebecca Schiller“Rebecca Schiller’s poignant insider view of life with ADHD will be a revelation to many, especially women. The definition of neurodivergence continues to expand, and A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention is a groundbreaking addition.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN
The Experiment, $16.95, Psychology
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| |  Trustby Hernan Diaz“Hernan Diaz does things I’ve never seen in a novel before. Trust ties up threads of money and art, family and history, lies and truth. Think historical fiction turned meta, with a beating heart and spectacular writing.”
—Mark Haber, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, TX
Riverhead Books, $17, Fiction
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