Claudia Dey
[isbn]
About a cult long after the death of its charismatic leader, this daring novel is set in a familiar world made strange by isolation and poverty. Narrated by three remarkable characters (including a loyal, vicious dog), this is a story about love and family outside society. The world of Heartbreaker is exquisitely realized and Dey's prose shines like rhinestones.
Recommended by Hayley H.
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Katrina Rodabaugh
[isbn]
Sustainable fashion. Slow fashion. Whatever your terminology, making, mending, reusing clothes, and avoiding factory fashion is Katrina Rudabaugh’s mission. If you like Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin, you will adore Mending Matters. I loved Mending Matters from the moment it landed on my desk and had to fight off coworkers for the privilege to browse it first. Rodabaugh will inspire you to mend your old battered clothes... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Joel Gamoran, Katie Couric
[isbn]
Seattle author Joel Gamoran has given us a rare cookbook, one that makes use of kitchen scraps in ways that look amazing and taste delicious. Useless squash seeds turn into granola bars, stale potato chips become cookies, and herb stems make up a fancy salt. So many things that we all throw out (corn cobs, onion skins, fish skeletons) have a little more work to do before we compost them for good. Cooking Scrappy is a book for all home... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Thomas Hardy
[isbn]
This dark novel begins with a man who, in a drunken rage, sells his wife and daughter at a fair. Full of remorse upon realizing what he has done, he vows to redeem his life — and does so. Yet his secret weighs heavily on him. Hardy is his usual brooding, heartrending self here, but to a beautiful, profound effect.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Jim Bouton
[isbn]
I couldn't tell you who won last year's World Series, because I don't follow baseball. But this sports book has earned a sterling reputation as a classic that transcends the game.
Author/knuckleball pitcher Jim Bouton has the humorist's eye for telling, pithy detail, and the memoirist's courage in sharing honest and sometimes unflattering anecdotes about himself and his teammates. In short, from its opening pitch to the final out, Ball Four... (read more)
Recommended by Bart K.
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Naomi Novik
[isbn]
At first I was tentative to pick up this book, and to delve into this lengthy series. Now, I wish there was more to come. His Majesty's Dragon is historical fiction with a twist: Dragons exist. They're vital to the success of each nation, a valuable asset to be used when Napoleon comes knocking at the door. What captivated me was the style of storytelling, the diverse cast of characters, and the uniqueness of the dragons from region to... (read more)
Recommended by Samantha C.
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Miaojin Qiu, Eileen Myles, Bonnie Huie
[isbn]
Besides the main character's name becoming synonymous with "lesbian" in Taiwanese, this classic that arose in the queer literary scene of ’80s Taiwan helped drastically push societal norms in a more accepting direction. Far ahead of its time even internationally, Notes of a Crocodile's youthful and angsty protagonists challenged and deconstructed gender in ways that are only now in vogue. If you're not sold yet, it also features one of... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Hamish Steele
[isbn]
In the land of Pollywood, a Scooby Doo-esque theme park, Dead End is the haunted mansion that serves as a portal to the angel and demon worlds. Steele has created a diverse cast of characters that find home in the theme park for various reasons, and they end up having to battle actual demons as well as the ones they face in their day-to-day lives. Even though the overall tone of the book is bright, it takes some dark turns, and puts characters... (read more)
Recommended by Brianna B.
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Emily M. Danforth
[isbn]
Cameron likes girls. A lot. And the girls she likes are OK with it... until Coley. Driven by guilt, Coley confesses her relationship with Cameron and Cameron's life is never the same. Cameron gets sent away to a Christian school set on helping her overcome her "illness." This book is full of beautifully realized characters and situations many of us can identify with. This is definitely a book I had when I was coming out as a teen, and one I... (read more)
Recommended by Deana R.
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Miles Gunter, Kelsey Shannon
[isbn]
A young woman in a fishing village is turned into a vampire, kills her maker, and retreats to the ocean for a century or so to live in tranquility under the sea. When her best friend (a giant shark) dies from an oil spill, she emerges to a modern world ravaged by climate change and becomes determined to stop all these awful humans before they destroy the food supply she needs to subsist on for eternity. Who doesn't want to watch a rad vampire gal... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Lisa Hanawalt
[isbn]
Coyote Doggirl loves two things: her horse, Red, and her peaceful home. When both are threatened, she finds herself on the run as she's pursued by some rough 'n' tough cowboys looking for vengeance. Hanawalt's bold feminist spin on a good old-fashioned Western is a rollicking hell of a ride.
Recommended by Haley B.
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Lesley Nneka Arimah
[isbn]
Arimah's writing is quite literally breathtaking. Her stories are lush and vibrant.
Recommended by Haley B.
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Matty Matheson
[isbn]
You’ve seen his big, bold self on Viceland, now have his big, bold flavors in your kitchen. This is one of the grandest personality-driven cookbooks I’ve seen. Every page, every recipe is a serving of pure Matty. Whether it’s his childhood memories represented by Mom's Cheesy Things (homemade bread sliced and baked with cheese and spiced up), or a Bologna Bowl (involves American cheese, white bread, and an egg). Make the Bologna Bowl in... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Kate Mcdermott
[isbn]
Did you like Art of the Pie as much as I did? Kate McDermott brings that same honest spirit to comfort food recipes. Full of tips and personality, my copy of Home Cooking was in my hands for only minutes before I began to litter the pages with post-it notes of recipes that I need to try: Mystery Squash Cookies, Deep Dish Ricotta Potluck Pie, and Playgroup Casserole. (Um, I don’t want to give anything away, but the mystery... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Julie Schumacher
[isbn]
This novel by a Midwestern writing professor about a Midwestern English professor sounds a bit cliched. So is this just another entry in the tired "writers writing about writing" genre? Nope. In reality, Dear Committee Members is brilliant! The life of Prof. Jason Fitger is glimpsed through an endless number of recommendation letters, memos, and emails that he writes for colleagues, students, and absolute strangers, and it's an... (read more)
Recommended by Bart K.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
You'll be laughing all the way to the dentist after reading this delightfully sweet tale about losing one's tooth! The first in the Unlimited Squirrels series (there are a lot of squirrels), this hyperactive compendium of stories, silly jokes, and dental information will elicit giggles, good dental hygiene, and the burning desire to yank that wobbly tooth.
Recommended by Kate L.
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Caitlin Doughty
[isbn]
The delightful second book by death-positive revolutionary (and American hero) Caitlin Doughty, From Here to Eternity is a heartfelt travelogue through ancient funerary practices and cutting-edge modern deathcare.
Recommended by Hayley H.
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Sarah Mirk, Eva Cabrera, Claudia Aguirre
[isbn]
Open Earth is an erotic story about polyamorous relationships set in space. Or, to say it another way, it's a profoundly hopeful tale about the first generation to grow up in space coming into adulthood, born of a group of scientists who abandoned a dying earth. The young people who grew up unaffected by the media and norms of Earth are contrasted with their parents — Earthlings — with their strange nostalgia for past ways and weird... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Amber Dawn
[isbn]
Sodom Road Exit is a rollicking and genuinely spooky lesbian ghost story, helmed by a swaggering queer protagonist who would rather jump horror's bones than scream. Haunted roller coaster and floating care bears aside, this is a narrative that brims with existential dread for college debt and economic decline as much as for the things that go bump in the night.
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Timothy Egan
[isbn]
This is the story of the biggest forest fire in US history. Three million acres burned across three states, aided by the flammable gas that boiled out of pine sap during the conflagration!
Recommended by Jennifer K.
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Esme Weijun Wang
[isbn]
Although I do not share Esmé Weijun Wang's diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, I too have wondered how to separate my brain from my true self — is there even any distance at all? In this riveting collection of essays, she documents the realities of living with a stigmatized diagnosis and explores the elusive nature of identity. Translated literally, "schizophrenia" means split mind and Wang struggles to reconcile the sum of her parts into a... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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David Joy
[isbn]
I was first captured by David Joy's writing in his debut, Where All Light Tends to Go. His sophomore effort lives up to the promise he made in his first novel. Brutally sparse, haunting prose pulls you in from the first word and echoes in your head for days after the heartbreaking closing chapter. Not a single word in wasted in this novel, each piece pulling together into a sad story of the pasts we cannot escape and the futures many of... (read more)
Recommended by Deana R.
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Magica Quartet , Hanokage
[isbn]
Puella Magi Madoka Magica was the first series to deconstruct the magical girl genre, taking the fight between hope and despair to some of its darker conclusions. It has all the delightful trimmings you should expect from the broader category — the friendships, the transformations, the pretty outfits, the cute talking animal friend — except with an underlying sinister logic that cuts to the heart of our societal tropes about sacrificing young... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Brian Doyle
[isbn]
Brian Doyle, beloved Oregon author, discovered that Robert Louis Stevenson once referred to a book that he'd (Stevenson) like to write one day: The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World. Stevenson never did write that book, and scholars never did find a trace of John Carson. Brian Doyle, huge Stevenson fan that he was, could not resist writing that missing novel for Stevenson. Full of rollicking and adventurous... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Ngozi Ukazu
[isbn]
# Hockey (Check Please! #1) is about so much more than college hockey bros. It's about college hockey bros who aren't afraid to show their emotions and support for one another! It's about college hockey bros who learn to foster healthy relationships through open communication! It's about college hockey bros facing the impending doom of adulthood and pursuing their dreams! I will not stop raving about how fantastic and adorable this book... (read more)
Recommended by Brianna B.
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V.E. Schwab
[isbn]
What a frighteningly good sequel to a story I didn't think could get better. In Vengeful we still follow the villains we've grown to know and love, but Schwab has turned the tables by introducing new villains — women who will stop at nothing to exercise the full range of their powers. Some are looking for revenge, and some are looking to amend past wrongs, but all of them are ruthless and powerful. I don't think this book could have come... (read more)
Recommended by Brianna B.
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Olga Tokarczuk
[isbn]
Flights is a majestic argosy of compassion for those who are driven by the impulse to flee, vanish, or escape in defiance of our shared and fallible vessel, the human body. Tokarczuk links motion with mortality throughout, taking sprightly turns between evaluations of airport psychology and grisly depictions of preserved limbs suspended in jars of formaldehyde. What remains is an unmistakable admiration for a kind of ambulatory... (read more)
Recommended by Justin W.
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Jennifer Miller
[isbn]
Teenage Iris, still reeling from the death of her best friend, starts up at a new school, the exclusive Mariana Academy. Far from easing carefully into her new circumstances, Iris jumps headfirst into a tangled mess of dark history, controversy, tragedy, and an elite group of students who work undercover to expose the hidden secrets of classmates and teachers alike. Following in the footsteps of previous boarding school novels, Jennifer Miller... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Abbi Jacobson
[isbn]
So honest, funny, and thoughtful — Abbi's road trip entries are a fresh take on navigating the pressures and quandaries of adulting. Her stories are so relatable you don't need to have watched Broad City to feel included along for the ride.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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David Yaffe
[isbn]
Like most children of California baby boomers, Joni Mitchell was the soundtrack of my childhood. I had memorized all the songs on Blue by the time I was seven. Needless to say, I was clamoring for David Jaffe's biography on the enigmatic and incomparable songstress. Reckless Daughter — without a doubt — is the quintessential biography of Mitchell: well researched, fair, and shares with us the Joni we rarely see — raw,... (read more)
Recommended by Kate L.
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Casey Gerald
[isbn]
I was gripped from page one by Gerald’s magnetic, painterly writing. But it was his story — that of a poor black kid from Dallas whose intellect and athletic ability propelled him to increasing levels of success, and the humbling lessons he learned along the way — that blew me away. An extraordinary read.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Ben Brooks, Quinton Wintor
[isbn]
Ben Brooks presents 76 men who represent compassion, innovation, and sensitivity. Great male role models such as Stephen Hawking, Barack Obama, and Jesse Owens are highlighted with a wonderful portrait by Quinton Wintor. Read about these figures through history who have gone against stereotypes to become men to believe in.
Recommended by Kim T.
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Susan Orlean
[isbn]
Just as she did with The Orchid Thief, Orlean tells a true story that has the page-turning appeal of great fiction. This time her focus is a devastating fire that struck the LA library in 1986, and it serves as a launchpad for a riveting journey into the history of LA, public spaces, and the vital role of libraries themselves.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Jeff Tweedy
[isbn]
This is the book I’ve been waiting for this fall! In his new memoir, beloved Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy talks about his childhood, his musical journey, and his artistic process. His smart and honest writing will connect with music fans of all kinds.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Ursula K Le Guin, Charles Vess
[isbn]
I came to the Earthsea series later than most, but it would be difficult to overstate the impact it's had on not only how I read but how I see the world. Charles Vess's illustrations for this new edition are gorgeous and evocative: I am excited about Le Guin all over again.
Recommended by Ashleigh B.
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Rebecca Solnit
[isbn]
Rebecca Solnit knows that words matter, and she wields them with respect. While reading this collection of essays, I underlined pretty much every sentence — it's just that good! Slim but beautifully written, this provides a new and much-needed perspective on the events we are experiencing at this moment in American history. I came away inspired and energized, no small feat right now.
Recommended by Leah C.
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Alice Laplante
[isbn]
Dr. Jennifer White is a retired hand surgeon, who, unfortunately, is moving toward late-stage dementia. When her best friend is murdered and found with fingers surgically removed from one hand, Dr. White is the prime suspect. Yet, how to build a case, much less convict, on the bewildering ramblings of an Alzheimer's patient? Told from Dr. White's perspective, Turn of Mind is a moody, gauzy, wispy story; the haze of lost memory is almost... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Goolrick, Robert
[isbn]
Frank advertises for a "mail-order bride," and Catherine accepts. She arrives in Wisconsin during a blizzard, which sets the initial tone for the chilly interaction between them. They both have sinister, unexpressed plans for each other. Heavy on themes of sex, greed, and self-interest, The Reliable Wife morphs into a pseudo-love story. Ralph suffers at Catherine's hand, and she seems untouchable, but is she? Catherine undergoes a... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Naz Deravian
[isbn]
Bottom of the Pot is a lovingly written and beautifully photographed paean to Iranian cooking and family memories. This is a cookbook you want to spend some time with, even when you are not in the kitchen. Author Naz Deravian (of the Bottom of the Pot blog) brings a little something new to this ancient cuisine in dishes like Roasted Squash With Grapes, Baked Feta With Cranberry Quince Sauce, and Honey and Vinegar Sharbat.... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Aminder Dhaliwal
[isbn]
Woman World is a hilarious and delightful collection of Aminder Dhaliwal's web comic, imagining a world where the last people to remember the existence of men are now nearing old age. Razor-sharp wit about feminist issues is given new context in a world that hardly needs it, as women the world over build, create, and love. Bonus points: it's the only trans-inclusive story about a post-men utopia I've come across, and features some really... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
[isbn]
YA greats Albertalli and Silvera’s collaboration is more than a love story: it’s an ode to the people whose edges line up with ours like puzzle pieces, who shape our lives and bring out the best in us. A summer — a life — can change in a single moment, if we open our hearts and let it.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Brandon Sanderson
[isbn]
Spensa has lived her whole life in the underground caverns of Detritus, the shipwreck planet that houses the last bastion of humanity. Her father inspired her to fly, but his desertion branded her a coward’s daughter. How can she claim the stars if the admiralty won’t let her reach them? A thrilling start to a sweeping new series!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rachel Vincent
[isbn]
Stray is the first book in the Shifters series by Rachel Vincent. All Faythe wants to do is live a normal human life, but she's much more than your average college girl. One of only eight unclaimed female werecats, Faythe is a valuable asset to her pride, no matter badly she wants to just be normal. Unfortunately, her life gets interrupted when a stray enters her pride's territory and a female from a bordering pride goes missing.... (read more)
Recommended by Samantha C.
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Hampton Sides
[isbn]
Hampton Sides brings the "forgotten war" to the forefront of the reader's mind with On Desperate Ground. In the same narrative fashion as Ghost Soldiers, Sides takes the reader through the lives of a small group of Marines who are heavily outnumbered by not only the Koreans, but Mao's Chinese troops as well. This is a fantastic tale of military bravery from a war that should be anything but forgotten.
Recommended by Jeffrey J.
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Louise Erdrich
[isbn]
Evolution is moving backwards. Pregnant women’s rights are being revoked. Everything is chaos. Louise Erdrich imagines a dystopian world just similar enough to our own that it will make you shiver. It’s a gripping story that examines some of the most pressing issues of our time, and some of the biggest questions humans have ever asked.
Recommended by Leah B.
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Vashti Harrison
[isbn]
I want to hug every single page in this inspiring collection. There is no better time to tell the stories of these powerful women, to learn their names and follow their lead. I’d like to share Little Dreamers with every woman and girl I know!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Lauren Reeves, Jude Buffum
[isbn]
As a native Oregonian of a certain age, I have a lifelong devotion to the Oregon Trail video games. Reading this witty book has me ready to pack up my wagon and set out for the great unknown. Will it be cholera or a snakebite that kills me?
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Tracy K Smith
[isbn]
I have not kept up-to-date on contemporary poets, so American Journal, curated by Tracy K. Smith, was immediately appealing to me. This collection is thematically and stylistically diverse; it's a great introduction to some of America's best poets, but it's also a thoughtful meditation on being an American in 2018.
Recommended by Ashleigh B.
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Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally
[isbn]
We can’t all meet our soulmate at a theater in LA, but Nick and Megan’s love story feels incredibly relatable. Through random stories and hilarious interruptions, we discover the true romance between these two comedians, as well as some occasionally absurd advice for a happy life with a loved one.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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C Spike Trotman, Emilee Denich
[isbn]
Yes, Roya is a smart and sexy graphic novel about love and comics from the always fabulous Spike Trotman. Set in the early 1960s, we follow a young artist who's trying to get his career off the ground when he gets the opportunity to meet his cartoonist hero. He's shocked to discover that his hero's comics are secretly all the work of his "wife" Roya — who is actually his Domme. What follows is our protagonist's relationship with them... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Dylan Thuras, Rosemary Mosco, Joy Ang
[isbn]
The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid is a deeply satisfying book for my budding Gertrude Bell. Spanning 47 countries, this guide includes geographical, cultural, and scientific facts about 100 destinations across the globe in language that is engaging and digestible for even the youngest adventurer (my daughter is four). Each page features wonderful and familiar illustrations from Adventure... (read more)
Recommended by Kate L.
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Beth Evans
[isbn]
As someone who has had varying degrees of anxiety, it's nice to have a book that validates that and says it's okay to have anxiety, in whatever form that may look like. Beth Evans's book is the accessible foray into self-care, and acceptance of the fact that we're not perfect, that we all need to be reminded of once in a while.
Recommended by Maya M.
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Jayne Anne Phillips
[isbn]
Lark and Termite are two characters who will invade you. Lark, a young woman embarking on adulthood, has a sense of self about which most people can only dream. Termite, her younger brother, has a form of autism, yet his inner world is rich, layered, and lush. The story of their parents slowly unravels as the novel progresses. It is heartbreaking when Lark, all alone, assumes an adult role well beyond her years in order to face a crisis. But at... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Robert Galbraith
[isbn]
J. K. Rowling scores a big hit with her incognito foray into the mystery genre. No, she was not happy to be outed as Robert Galbraith, but her cantankerous, grumpy P.I. and excellent story will make you happy that she was. Here's hoping she continues making inroads into adult literature.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Ursula K Le Guin
[isbn]
In So Far So Good, the last poems written by Ursula K. Le Guin have been gathered into a spare yet powerful collection. These poems reflect the process of making sense of a life as it comes to an end, and are filled with thoughts on old age, nature, and family. A moving farewell to a literary legend.
Recommended by Leah C.
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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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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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Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
[isbn]
Cocktail Codex is the bartending bible for cocktail enthusiasts. The authors of Death and Co teach the basics of six cocktails and then show how all the other cocktails in the world can be created from them. Cocktail Codex is a smart, elegant book.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Kristen Miglore
[isbn]
Food52 Genius Desserts is a collection of wicked delicious recipes, suggested by the community of the Food52 blog and vetted by the blog staff. The icing on the cake? All of these recipes are designed for an average family kitchen, no fancy equipment required.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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David W Blight
[isbn]
This timely, powerful biography by a prize-winning author draws on new information about Frederick Douglass, a man who escaped slavery and rose to become one of history's greatest orators and advocates of freedom. A book to treasure and ponder over, with great relevance today.
Recommended by Richard C.
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Lonely Planet
[isbn]
In need of some inspiration to explore the great outdoors? Try Epic Hikes of the World! Lots of photos, tips, and historical tidbits accompany each entry, along with suggestions for similar expeditions. It's also a great resource for armchair hikers — I may not ever climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, but I sure enjoyed reading about it.
Recommended by Leah C.
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Genevieve Hudson
[isbn]
Now that I write nonfiction, I don't tend to read as much fiction as I used to. It's a shame, but that's what happens. I happen to work with Kevin Sampsell, who runs Future Tense Books, which is the publisher for Pretend We Live Here: Stories. I happened to see the cover one afternoon and I loved the brightness of it, so I checked it out and gave it a shot. Readers: You need this book in your life. I'm serious. Do you like queer stories... (read more)
Recommended by Katherine M.
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Jenny Lawson
[isbn]
Furiously Happy is a book I turn to time and again. Both heartbreaking and hilarious, Jenny writes with painful honesty about living with chronic mental and physical illnesses. In the final essay of the book, she recounts a conversation with her husband, in which she states, "Your life would be so much better without me." He replies, "It may have been easier, but it would never have been better," and this has always stuck with me. I... (read more)
Recommended by Deana R.
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Wilson, Daniel H.
[isbn]
The most frightening thing about this book is how easily the reader can see it becoming true. What, exactly, do we do when the technology we depend on turns against us? What if it decides to kill us? A chilling "what-if" and a fantastic urban sci-fi read.
Recommended by Deana R.
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Deborah Harkness
[isbn]
Harkness’s newest novel is a love story full of magic and the supernatural. It follows vampire Marcus and soon-to-be vampire Phoebe through their pasts and present. Fans will recognize the characters from the All Souls Trilogy, but this book stands on its own.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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bell hooks
[isbn]
This book was recommended to me by my partner, and has since changed my life and my view of love and loving in every aspect of my experience. There are many huge, hard truths in this deeply personal book, and I highly recommend it to everyone looking to broaden their understanding of love and relating.
Recommended by Deana R.
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Mac Barnett
[isbn]
Mac was just a normal kid — until the Queen called and asked for his help solving a mystery. I laughed my way through this globetrotting adventure, filled with illustrations and historical and geographical details that you pick up without realizing it (shhh). I can't wait to see what Mac gets up to next!
Recommended by Leah C.
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Yotam Ottolenghi
[isbn]
Ottolenghi Simple features pared-down recipes with full Ottolenghi flavor. The recipes are fast to make, or have few ingredients, can be made ahead, or are made from items already in your pantry. Color-coded recipes help direct cooks to their own styles of cooking and entertaining.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Grackle & Pigeon
[isbn]
Brimming with colorful photos and sketches to get your creative juices flowing, this whimsical book is all about creating cozy spaces anywhere you happen to be. You’ll find a treasure trove of imaginative ideas — there’s even a book cave!
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jason Logan, Michael Ondaatje
[isbn]
Make Ink is a beautiful, inspiring, and informative introduction to the process of turning natural ingredients into writing and drawing materials. It's chock-full of info on foraging and supplies, as well as some truly swoonworthy photos. Get ready for your crafty new hobby, this one's a winner!
Recommended by Leah C.
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Mary Beard
[isbn]
I love Mary Beard, and her latest study of ancient art, How Do We Look, does not disappoint. Her language is straightforward and accessible, and she always focuses on the most interesting questions: Who made this? Why? And, perhaps most importantly, how did people see it? Fascinating stuff for readers of all levels.
Recommended by Leah C.
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Andrea Beaty, David Roberts
[isbn]
Famed picture book characters Iggy Peck, Ada Twist, and Rosie Revere, aka The Questioneers, team up in this first of a new chapter book series by Andrea Beaty. Rosie leads the way with science and engineering to solve problems with her friends. Great for ages six and up!
Recommended by Kim T.
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Jon Agee
[isbn]
Is one side of this wall really safer than the other side? John Agee, acclaimed author of It’s Only Stanley, presents this hilarious picture book about a foolish knight and an ogre. Wall has a surprising ending and lots of great details for kids and adults.
Recommended by Kim T.
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Tammy Lynne Stoner
[isbn]
Stoner's debut story of a young woman trying to find her way in the world is both light and profound. Dara falls in love with her best friend, and the bliss she feels is like nothing ever before. Events occur which derail her future plans, so Dara regroups and tiptoes her way into a different kind of life. Sweet and serious, Sugar Land is a great coming-of-age story that looks at both the euphoria and the despair of first and... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Sonya Patel Ellis
[isbn]
Botanical Bible is an amazing book! A big fat book that could live on your coffee table for a couple of years and you’d still find interest in it. Filled with botanical history, art, recipes, and just a whole lot of beauty, this is a gardener’s dream book. I don’t often rave about books that are so cross-topic, but Botanical Bible really hits the sweet spot in being curated perfectly. My hat is off to author Sonya Patel Ellis... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Peter Sagal
[isbn]
Part travelogue and part memoir, Peter Sagal’s The Incomplete Book of Running includes plenty of his well-known wit punctuating more serious reflections on the paths (and roads and routes and trails) taken.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Jk Rowling, Lisbeth Zwerger, J K Rowling
[isbn]
Beloved children’s book illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger gorgeously illustrates J . K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard. These classic tales from the Harry Potter world, with commentary by Albus Dumbledore, will please any Harry Potter fan. Plus, for every sale of this book, Scholastic will donate 15% of the suggested retail price to Lumos.
Recommended by Kim T.
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Theodore Dreiser, E L Doctorow
[isbn]
At the turn of the century, a country girl leaves home for the big city. At a time when the only option for women was to marry well, Carrie shows us a different road. While her rabid ambition and vanity indicate her true nature, the society in which she navigates is harsh and unforgiving. Dreiser's portrait of the ugliness of human nature is stunning.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Rose Levy Beranbaum
[isbn]
Rose Levy Beranbaum is well recognized as a premier American baker and cookbook author. Her cookbooks aren’t just a collection of recipes — they are an entire classroom in a book. As a bookseller, I always feel confident in handselling her cookbooks because they are so deeply reliable: the recipes will be good, the photography will be helpful, and there is something for everybody to learn. Rose’s Baking Basics is a welcome addition to my... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Ryan North
[isbn]
Time machine broke down? Don’t worry — this book contains all you need to know to rebuild civilization! Crammed full of science and history, bursting with humor and personality, How to Invent Everything is the most wildly inventive, fascinating book I’ve read in a long time.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Stephen Hawking
[isbn]
Stephen Hawking's final book presents some of the biggest questions and most important issues before us today: Will the human race survive? Is there a God? His brief answers will challenge your thinking and bring you out of your bubble.
Recommended by Kim S.
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Leila Slimani
[isbn]
She is beautiful, privileged, and cherished by her husband, but she is not happy. Like a modern-day Emma Bovary, Adèle shares her agitation and her discontent with a life of respectable comfort — she too seeks oblivion in ecstasy. And so she has affairs, many of them. But despite the graphically physical nature of these liaisons, no one ever really touches her. She is alone with her all-consuming fear, her unacceptable desires, her indifference... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Paige Williams
[isbn]
Eric Prokopi was fossil merchant to the stars — until he was accused of dinosaur smuggling. Who really owns these wonders we excavate from our world? With engaging prose and detailed reporting, Paige Williams deftly explores possession, obsession, and the fraught intersection of science, history, and money.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Jeff Kinney
[isbn]
Every kid dreams about snow days — building forts, making snowmen, drinking cocoa — but what if your dream come true turned into your worst nightmare? Greg and Rowley are about to experience just that in Kinney’s hilarious 13th volume of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Yuval Noah Harari
[isbn]
Having written about mankind’s past and future, Harari turns his keen eye and provocative fusion of historical and scientific reasoning to an examination of the present. Harari is a captivating writer, unafraid to follow the paths technology, climate change, national politics, and other hot button issues are leading us on. It’s a journey well worth joining.
Recommended by Matt K.
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Robert Galbraith
[isbn]
This long-anticipated fourth offering in the Cormoran Strike series picks up where the third left off, and given Galbraith’s mastery of suspense, it would be a disservice to give much else away. It is worth noting that “lethal white” is a deadly equine syndrome: Who will the pale horse and his rider come for in these pages?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Leni Zumas
[isbn]
Red Clocks follows four women, the Mender, the Mother, the Daughter, and the Biographer, as they move through pregnancies, motherhood, and infertility in an America that has outlawed most forms of reproductive freedom. Despite this political background, the novel's central focus is on the internal legislation that governs motherhood — not the laws enacted by Congress, but the joys and recriminations every woman feels regarding pregnancy... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Mackenzi Lee
[isbn]
Mackenzi Lee’s The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is stuffed with sarcasm, wit, and so many feels! I was amazed by Felicity’s ingenuity and bravery, her refusal to be anything less than the woman she is. Both thrilling and thoughtful, this is an incredible coming-of-age adventure for YA readers of all ages.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Natasha Solomons
[isbn]
After escaping WWII-era Berlin for London, the Rosenblums must assimilate into proper British society. Sadie Rosenblum isn't as concerned with fitting in as her husband, preferring to hang onto and embrace her German roots. Jack Rosenblum, however, will not be swayed from attaining the perfect English life. Marmalade, a Jaguar, and correct English attire soon follow, along with Jack's ownership of a respectable carpet factory. Yet, much to his... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Harriet Beech Stowe
[isbn]
This novel must be read in the context of its own time. Looking at the book with present-day eyes, it seems to contain not characters but caricatures. The characters in this book became larger than life over time, and a series of emotions attach to them that were not intended in the beginning. Beautiful and poignant, Uncle Tom's Cabin changed history. Upon meeting the author, Abraham Lincoln said, "So you're the little lady who wrote the... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Pete Souza
[isbn]
In Shade, Pete Souza’s arresting photos of President Obama’s administration are paired with Trump-era headlines, tweets, and quotes to reveal two very different presidencies. If you follow Souza on Instagram, his quiet protest will be familiar to you, but in book form the juxtapositions tell a particularly powerful (and chilling) story.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Eloisa James
[isbn]
Eloisa James always delivers, but Born to Be Wilde is my favorite from her. It's the third book in the Wildes series, so we've already been introduced to Parth and Lavinia, but the complete story of their relationship is one of the best I've ever read. Lavinia is one of the most complex and rewarding characters I've come to care about. A true delight!!
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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PCC COMMUNITY MARKETS
[isbn]
Long before Seattle became a food destination, local hippies were experimenting with new grains and organic vegetables. When they weren’t buying from Pike Place Market, they were shopping at the co-op. PCC was (and is) the greatest co-op of them all. Sixty-five years of grocery and deli experience has gone into developing these recipes. Cooking From Scratch features sound, wholesome food, with a touch of PNW flair. (P.S. It’s not just... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Shobha Rao
[isbn]
With heartrending scenes, lyrical prose, and Shobha Rao's masterful storytelling,
Girls Burn Brighter blazes forth a tale of perseverance and fate.
Poornima's and Savitha's strength and love shine through their friendship. I relished this compelling novel!
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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Nicole Chung
[isbn]
The openness and honesty with which Nicole Chung writes about her life is captivating. This is an intensely personal book, but handled with a precision that keeps it from feeling voyeuristic. If you only read one memoir this year, read All You Can Ever Know.
Recommended by Ashleigh B.
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Leonard Cohen
[isbn]
Leonard Cohen’s final volume contains self-portraits, poems, notebook excerpts, and lyrics gathered by the artist in his closing years. I fell in love for the first time to The Songs of Leonard Cohen (no doubt a calculated effort on my boyfriend’s part!); this beautiful collection brings me back to those bittersweet and wanting days.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Jacqueline Chio Lauri, John Birdsall, Rowena Dumlao Giardina
[isbn]
What is Filipino cooking? Not all of us have been introduced to what is essentially global cuisine. Every group of settlers to the 7,000-island country has left its mark on Filipino cuisine. In kind, the contributors to NFK provide recipes with written personal narratives that almost make mini-chapters. These are recipes with backstories, with connections across time to family lore and history. This is a lovely, informative, and... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Emily Suvada
[isbn]
Picking up where This Mortal Coil left off, Cat has some answers — but far more questions than she did before. This book moves fast, and the ending (no spoilers) will leave you gasping and trying to figure out what just happened. This Mortal Coil was a Top 5 pick for me last year — and I liked This Cruel Design even better!
Recommended by Beth C.
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Helena Hunting
[isbn]
This entertaining romp of real estate romance is the perfect way to relax when your work week is done. It's no fixer-upper, just the perfect beach house to escape your every day life. Move in for some fun!
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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