Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
Erin Morgenstern is the kind of writer who, as she grew up, never lost her childhood sense of wonder. Her sense of joy. Her sense of innocent anticipation. Every page of this book rings with all of that. And more. The Starless Sea is a puzzle, a quest, a mystery. Not one, not two, but three unrequited love stories are tangled up with this fantastical story of bees, underground libraries, seas of honey, owl kings, keys, swords,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Casey McQuiston
[isbn]
I'm a firm believer that we all need a little romance in our lives from time to time. There's been so much hype about Red, White, and Royal Blue (at one point, a coworker saw me pull up an image of the book and shouted "Oh my God, I loved that book!") and I just wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. It turns out that the fuss is correct. I experienced so many emotions while reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I sighed... (read more)
Recommended by Katherine M.
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Sarah Maclean
[isbn]
The Bareknuckle Bastards are back with Whit "Beast" at the helm alongside the incomparable, curvaceous Hattie Sedley. Full of intrigue, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry (with a few naughty nautical knots thrown in for fun). The Year of Hattie is here and she's taking no prisoners in her quest to rule her world.
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Lorraine Heath
[isbn]
Beyond Scandal and Desire is the first book in the A Sin for All Seasons series. The whole series revolves around the Trewlove siblings. They are not related to each other but all have a fierce love for the widow who took them in as babies and an incredible loyalty to their makeshift family. With three books out so far and the fourth about to arrive in August, Mick and Aslyn's story from Beyond Scandal is still my favorite of... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Beverly Jenkins
[isbn]
I love historical romances, but I'm guilty of picking up books that cover obscure parts of English history and ignoring excellent authors writing about American history. My new favorite author is Beverly Jenkins and her books about powerful African American men and women after the Civil War. Rebel has one of her strongest leads yet with the story of Valinda Lacy and her quest for independence from her family. Her growing relationship... (read more)
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Maria Vale
[isbn]
I devoured the three books in the Maria Vale series The Legend of All Wolves. The third book, Forever Wolf, came out this year and it was the most wild of the pack. These books have the most natural and untamed account of a pack that is trying to survive living with humans and other shifters. I've enjoyed Vale's unique Wolf world and hunger for more books about the Great North Pack.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Thea Harrison
[isbn]
Pia is half human and half... something else. She's not entirely sure what. Pia made the mistake of trusting someone with her secrets and to fix it, she has to steal from a dragon. When this dragon catches up with her, their passion practically sets them on fire. While the romance is very intense, this book still had me laughing. My first paranormal romance... and you never forget your first.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series is one of my all-time favorites. The first book, The Duke and I, introduces a family saga so heartwarming, funny, romantic, and sexy that I find myself coming back again and again. Don't sleep on these books — especially because Shonda Rhimes is adapting the series for Netflix. Looking for queer historical romance as good as Julia Quinn? Try Cat Sebastian!
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Lisa Kleypas
[isbn]
Kleypas's Wallflowers books are the perfect Regency romance novels. A group of friends, dubbed this season's "wallflowers," are determined to find great husbands... "trap" is probably a better word. The first book in the series starts with Annabelle — she looks the part of a noble, except that she isn't one. And she's determined to find a rich aristocrat to save her family from the streets. Simon, rich but without a title, ruins everything...
Recommended by Rose H.
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Kresley Cole
[isbn]
Werewolves and vampires hate each other. Everyone knows that. So when Lachlain finds the woman destined to be his mate, he is more than a little disappointed to find that she's a vampire. Emma wants nothing to do with him — in fact, she's terrified of the crazed werewolf. This book is full of sass and excitement. I love the world Kresley Cole has created.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Alix Nathan
[isbn]
"Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true." That old adage certainly applies to Alix Nathan's terrific tale of the rampant abuses inherent in the days before ethics committees existed. Rich, intellectual, science-loving Herbert Powyss can have anything he wants, and does, but it's not enough. He devises an experiment wherein a man will live sequestered for seven years in the cellar apartment Powyss has meticulously furnished with books,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Elly Griffiths
[isbn]
Elly Griffiths writes a spooky ghost story and a chilling murder mystery tangled into one creepy novel. Set in a school on the moors of rural England, with a haunted mansion and plenty of intrigue, The Stranger Diaries is framed by a sinister horror story, and absolutely every character is hiding something. Peppered throughout with literary references and — surprisingly — some spot-on humor, this is the brilliant gothic/ghost/school... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Antoine Laurain, Gallic Books
[isbn]
Antoine Laurain writes another incredibly charming tale, with themes on friendship, miracles, love, and dogs. The four main characters drink a bottle of wine one evening, and then find themselves transported back in time to the year the wine was made, 1954. But, once they've been transported, how on earth will they get back to their own time? Laurain has a writing style that makes you want to cuddle up with his books — they are so sweet. Dive in... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Jill Ciment
[isbn]
No one knows why the defendant murdered her younger brother. And juror C-2 isn't sure why she is so drawn to juror F-17, she isn't looking for anything outside her marriage. But as they go back and forth between the courtroom and the budget motel where they are sequestered, it isn't long before they start having an affair. It should be jarring, all the competing elements of the story: the gruesome trial details, the painfully sterile locales, the... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Diane Setterfield
[isbn]
A carefully executed fairy tale about lost girls, found girls, and society’s relationship to the science and magic of these things, Once Upon a River is rife with symbolism that embraces tradition as it simultaneously breathes new and unexpected bodies of life into it. What exactly are the messages we carry about women’s roles in society, and are we able to change those without disrupting the familiar and sacrosanct? If so, Diane... (read more)
Recommended by Aubrey W.
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Thompson Walker, Karen
[isbn]
The narrator in this dystopian story is sweet but knowing, an introverted middle school girl having to navigate a world slowly falling apart. It is her voice that carried me through, that drew me in and made it all real. There are no false notes in this book, just the genuine life of a girl trying to get by and grow up.
Recommended by Doug C.
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Lisa Kleypas
[isbn]
I used to be a snob and refused to read romance novels. A friend saw me as a challenge and handed me this novel to read. I was hooked. It starts off with Beatrix writing letters to a soldier away at war. He thinks it's Beatrix's friend writing the letters and when he finds out the truth upon his return home, it's both emotional and hilarious. I loved this one so much that I ended up going back and reading the rest of the series after finishing... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
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Kevin Hearne
[isbn]
This urban fantasy series is hilarious and full of magic. Atticus O'Sullivan is a druid. He is, in fact, the last druid to walk the earth. And all he wants is to live in peace in Arizona, running his occult bookshop. That peace is interrupted when he is discovered by a Celtic god who has held a grudge against him for about 2,000 years. This series has gods, faeries, and all kinds of other magical creatures. A super fun read. Great for fans of The... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
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Leigh Bardugo
[isbn]
Civil war left the country of Ravka scarred — quite literally in the case of its king, Nikolai Lantsov. But scars are the least of his worries: there are monsters lurking in Nikolai’s past, and if he wants to save his country, he’ll need to vanquish his demons. Bardugo is in fine form in this return to her compelling Grishaverse!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sarah Perry
[isbn]
Sarah Perry’s beautiful novels richly reward the patient reader. Her world building is lavish and precise; though her prose often tilts into poetry, her characters are crystalline, giving the writing a paradoxical quality that is both ornate and bare. This confusion between what is exposed and what only imagined drives the wonderfully creepy Melmoth, in which a fabled wanderer combs the world for human wickedness, doling out consolation... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Cecelia Ahern
[isbn]
What if you found the place where all missing things and people go? What if you found yourself there? Just go ahead and embrace the magical realism in this intriguing novel — it's worth it! It is original and charming.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Katharine Ashe
[isbn]
I actually found this book on a recent trip to NY and the Strand Bookstore. Not knowing it was the third in the series, I dove in and discovered a new author to LOVE!! I thought it had just the right amount of witty dialogue and sensuality, while tackling social issues in an intriguing way. The Duke lets others gossip about his "bad reputation" and uses it as a cover for righting some of the wrongs of colonial times. I am definitely... (read more)
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
I typically hate the "lying to an amnesiac" trope and have a hard time imagining a HEA for someone who starts a relationship with a lie, but this book has turned my bias upside down. Julia Quinn found a masterful way to make me fall in love with Cecilia — despite her deception — and especially with Edward. Edward's essential goodness and good humor, even when he felt betrayed by the woman he loves, puts him in the running for Hero of the Year.... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
The Other Miss Bridgerton has everything I want in a romance: smugglers and/or pirates, jigsaw puzzles, fried dough dipped in sugar, references to Titanic (the movie, not the tragedy), and a lightning storm that sparks a proposal. Totally swoony.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Becky Albertalli and 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Alisha Rai
[isbn]
The Forbidden Hearts series by Alisha Rai is astonishing in its intensity. My favorite book is the second in the series, Wrong to Need You. I love the mix of family history and sexy characters. I read a lot of romance books and this one definitely stands out as one of my favorites.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Alice Clayton
[isbn]
I am a total sucker for amusing romance book titles and so I couldn't resist reading Wallbanger. Luckily, Clayton's writing lives up to the fun and raunchy title. This is the first in the series and was a hot and amusing way to spend my time.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Kristen Callihan
[isbn]
Moonglow has everything I love about romance books: a brooding, tortured male lead matched with a strong, independent-minded woman. You also get to enter the world of steampunk Victorian werewolves!!! I wish I had read this series when it first came out, because I was missing out. Funny and emotional and just plain hot!!
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Alyssa Cole
[isbn]
Let's start with what matters most: a gruff, sexy Scottish sword maker. Now for the heart of the story — the emotional growth of our heroine and her fight to be taken seriously by those closest to her. And let's not forget, she gets to fall in love with a gruff, sexy Scottish sword maker. Delightfully inspiring.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Gail Honeyman
[isbn]
Touching and darkly hilarious, this story follows Eleanor, an offbeat office worker seemingly content with her life but whose eccentricities and complete lack of social skills have kept her from the friendships and relationships every person needs. After a string of unexpected encounters, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery in which she finally comes to terms with herself and her past. I laughed, cried, and felt everything in... (read more)
Recommended by Michelle L.
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Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
[isbn]
Alexander McCall Smith delivers a sweet story here, but it is not without some angst. Clover has loved James all of her life, but she feels him drifting away from her as they both leave their home in the Cayman Islands for boarding school in England. At the same time, Clover's parents seem to be drifting apart as well. McCall Smith's clean, straightforward prose and his subtle, sly wit give this story both happiness and heartbreak. If you love... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Sarah Maclean
[isbn]
I absolutely, thoroughly, endlessly love this book. I thought I adored Sarah MacLean already, but now I'm ride-or-die devoted! Felicity and Devil have apocalyptic chemistry and their journey is dark, scandalous, passionate, and wonderful. I can't recommend Wicked and the Wallflower enough.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Sabaa Tahir
[isbn]
The third installment in the An Ember in the Ashes series is action-packed from start to finish. As war approaches, our heroes attempt to save the people of the Empire, stop the Nightbringer, and keep the ghosts at bay. Great characters and excellent world-building make this a must-read.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Victoria Aveyard
[isbn]
If you’ve been longing for the romance, magic, war, romance, politics, and romance that is the Red Queen series, be still your readerly heart! Also, clear your schedule, because Aveyard’s series finale runs at breakneck speed; you’ll find yourself turning the pages long after you promised to do something more (ahem) productive.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
[isbn]
This standalone novel by Alexander McCall Smith is a slight departure from his usual fare. It lacks the charm and lightness of his other offerings, but gives, instead, a truly heartfelt dissertation on love. Melancholy, poignant, and bittersweet, Trains and Lovers has four tales of romance — warts and all. Four strangers take a long train ride, sharing their personal stories along the way. Andrew tells his own love story, Kay tells the... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Karen Thompson Walker
[isbn]
This story takes place within a world identical to ours, except for the eerie fact that the days and nights start to grow longer and longer as time passes. What happens when you can no longer be sure that the sun will rise at the same time each morning? More about the small moments than the big ones, The Age of Miracles is a gentle apocalypse that gives you the time you need to think and breathe.
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Shelly Laurenston
[isbn]
I don't think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book, EVER! I was expecting your typical shifter romance and was wonderfully surprised by the craziness that is the MacKilligan honey badger sisters. Their deadbeat conniving father gets them into such insane situations, and then the lengths they have to go to get out of them is pure chaos. This book has a higher body count than sex scenes. The heart of the story does come down to family,... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Andre Aciman
[isbn]
Set in a tiny town in northern Italy, this glorious love story will completely invade you. Aciman writes his lovers with both a deeply felt interior life and razor-sharp intelligence. Elio is in a haze of hormones and teenage angst, yet he is absolutely clear in stating his objective. Oliver is a buttoned-down man who lives strictly inside his head — not his heart. He wears his brusque, curt "American" persona like a suit of armor, and is utterly... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Dubow, Charles
[isbn]
How did this gem of a novel slip under the radar? Gorgeously rendered descriptions of
New York City, the Hamptons, Paris, and Rome. Deliciously infused scenes of intimate parties,
restaurants, picnics, food, and drink. A fun and sexy yet heartbreaking story of love, marriage, and friendships, I absolutely loved this unfolding tale!
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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Jojo Moyes
[isbn]
If you’ve missed the sweet and cheerful voice of irrepressible Louisa Parks, grieve no more! Instead, join her in Manhattan, where she’s taken a job with the ultrawealthy Gopniks. There she meets the handsome Joshua Ryan, who upsets her carefully constructed new life. Cue romantic hijinks and Bridget Jones-esque hilarity.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Holly Black
[isbn]
I couldn’t put this down and I don’t feel a spot of guilt about it. Holly Black’s world of faerie folk will get under your skin. Just beware that you’ll find yourself in deeper than you expected, indulging in every betrayal and savoring each intrigue.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Rachel Ingalls and Rivka Galchen
[isbn]
In which a lonely housewife falls in love with a tall, handsome sea creature and discovers the devastating secrets underpinning her life. Mrs. Caliban is a strange and lovely little tale from a deplorably underappreciated author, worth rereading for years to come!
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Gail Godwin
[isbn]
Grief Cottage: on a tiny island off the coast of South Carolina sits a ruined beach house, which is such a perfect metaphor for grief, it couldn't be more aptly named. Marcus has lost his mother — the only parent he's ever known — and is now living with his great aunt, just down the beach from Grief Cottage. A quirky array of neighbors help Marcus navigate his new life, but he is most drawn to the cottage — and what's inside of it. A combination... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Shirley Jackson
[isbn]
Everyone wears a mask, a public self that conceals the inner, true self. Shirley Jackson is the master of capturing the subtle horror of the moment when the mask slips. She sets her stories in harmless places — cheerful suburbs, beloved vacation spots, well-known cities — and skillfully peels back the layers of ordinary life to expose the hypocrisy, cruelty, and pure evil underneath. Her talent lies in taking everything that is familiar and... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Mackenzi Lee
[isbn]
I picked up this book on a whim, but then it sucked me in! I did not expect to become so attached to each of these characters, but by the end of the story I was desperately invested in all of them. The biggest accomplishment of this book is that it manages to grapple with subjects like racism, disability, abuse, and sexuality in a delicate manner, all the while remaining a fun adventure story. Plus, there are pirates.
Recommended by Junix S
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Sarah Perry
[isbn]
It took me a little while to settle into this original novel, which pairs the modern, small-town Loch Ness-esque mystery of Lauren Groff's The Monsters of Templeton with the quaint language and characterizations of a 19th-century British novel. At its center is Clara, a young widow who has finally escaped an abusive marriage. Free to indulge her interests in natural science, she finds herself (with her odd son and socialist female... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Berit Ellingsen
[isbn]
Mesmerizing, thoughtful, and haunting, Ellingsen's Not Dark Yet exemplifies the power of ecofiction.
Recommended by Kate G.
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Eloisa James
[isbn]
Wilde in Love ranks among the best stories I've read this year. The chemistry between the characters is electric. There's humor, banter, and whimsy. The female friendships are so positive and real, and the Wilde family dynamics are thoroughly charming. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Nora Roberts
[isbn]
Nora Roberts steps away from romance to give us an absolutely devastating story of global cataclysm. A new disease has rapidly infected most of the world, leaving behind survivors who exhibit mysterious — and dangerous — new abilities. I read this in one sitting, constantly on the edge of tears as I swung through every emotion. Although Year One chronicles the near extinction of mankind, the story is one of rebirth and the persistence of... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Daniel Handler
[isbn]
I'll admit that I am almost guaranteed to love anything Daniel Handler writes, whether it's as himself or as Lemony Snicket. I love his offbeat humor and the slanted way he has of looking at the world. At first glance, All the Dirty Parts might seem like something born of a late night conversation between Tom Wolfe and Tucker Max, but there's so much more here than a raunchy coming-of-age story. Like Handler's other novels, All the... (read more)
Recommended by Emily F.
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Tessa Dare
[isbn]
Tessa Dare brings on the heat and the hilarity in her new series, starting with The Duchess Deal, a Beauty and the Beast tale of a scarred duke and a clever seamstress. As usual, Dare had me laughing out loud and reading passages to anyone who was foolish enough to be near me!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Ian McEwan
[isbn]
Ian McEwan's Cold War-era spy tale is not what it appears to be. After suffering through a couple of bad love affairs, Serena, a beautiful 20-something university graduate, stumbles into a job with MI5 and is thrilled...until she realizes women only hold clerical positions. Still suffering the effects of a demoralizing breakup, she takes the job anyway. And soon, she does get an undercover assignment. "Sweet Tooth" is the code name for a loosely... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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N K Jemisin
[isbn]
This is a satisfying, thoughtful story that explores the themes of gender and relationship roles while staying within what could be considered the traditional fantasy genre. Each of the main characters is flawed and real. I'm glad to have spent time with each of them.
Recommended by Doug C.
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Andre Aciman
[isbn]
I'm not sure why it took me 10 years to read this book. I'd always heard it was great, but never actually picked it up until earlier this year. But when I did? I was stunned.
Few books capture the power of obsessive, overpowering first love and lust like Aciman does here. And with a movie adaptation coming out later this year, there isn't a better time to read (or reread!) this incredible book.
Recommended by Adam P.
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Kylie Scott
[isbn]
I'm ready to drive to Coeur d'Alene and meet the gorgeous, tattooed friends-with-benefits that Kylie Scott has so perfectly created. I just loved the idea that these two people found each other by total accident in the moment that they most needed a best-friend-in-bed. Dirty is hilarious and sexy and memorable, Scott's best novel yet and the start of an amazing new series.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Kristen Ashley
[isbn]
As much as I love Kristen Ashley, I didn't think I would like her first erotic novel: a beautiful dominatrix, tired of playing games, finds an alpha-submissive who may finally be the life partner she has been searching for. I should have known that Kristen Ashley can write whatever she wants and I will absolutely love it. The Deep End is intensely erotic, romantic, feminist, and so very positive. I can't wait to read more in this series!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Richard Yates
[isbn]
April and Frank try to salvage their crumbling marriage by moving to Paris and starting over. This searing portrait of a marriage on a downward slide is incredibly well done, and it will stay with you long after you close the book. Haunting!
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Nora Roberts
[isbn]
The Bodine family has it all — love, money, beauty, success — but under it all is a horrible crime, one that slowly emerges and upends the entire family. Come Sundown is a terrific contemporary Western romance as well as a suspenseful thriller, one that will have you rethinking your dream to hitchhike the Rockies.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Victor Pelevin
[isbn]
I loved this Big Bad Wolf-ish novel! Such awesome fun with erotic sci-fi flavor.
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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Jill Shalvis
[isbn]
Recovering troublemaker Elle Wheaton has her life on lockdown, spending all her time at work or studying, but Archer Hunt — former police officer, now professional bad-ass — is finally ready to take Elle on and find a happily-ever-after for them both. As in every Jill Shalvis story, the entire cast of characters is so well drawn, they're fun and real and totally believable. Plus, the chemistry between Elle and Archer might be the best she's ever... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
Touted as an adult's version of Harry Potter, The Night Circus actually lives up to its hype. It's the story of a couple of magicians, a circus, and a duel. And, of course, it's so much more. Morgenstern's creation is astounding and intricate, delicate and beautiful, frightening and overwhelming. Though torn between the contrary desires of racing through this perfectly paced tale or savoring every complex and unique sentence, I... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Amanda Bouchet
[isbn]
A Promise of Fire is a fiery, action-packed cocktail of mythology, fantasy, and romance. You'll love this intricate world, but the characters will really steal your heart. I read A Promise of Fire twice last year and recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and fierce heroines.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
[isbn]
Set in the same inexplicable town as the podcast that spawned it, Welcome to Night Vale is Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor’s debut novel in the Night Vale universe. While remaining firmly grounded in the mythos of the podcast, the novel reaches further to provide a glimpse at daily life in an exceptionally unsettling town.
Recommended by Ashleigh B.
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Esquivel, Laura
[isbn]
"Like water for chocolate" refers to the desired temperature for the perfect cup of hot chocolate. And that is: just at the point of bursting into a rolling boil. So, too, is the steamy love affair between Tita and Pedro: just about to boil over. Blistering, indeed!
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Samantha Hunt
[isbn]
Mr. Splitfoot is one of those rare books in which both the language and the story take center stage. I was hooked by the remarkable prose and then compelled by the inventive plot and the (somewhat literally) fantastic characters. It is a beautiful, funny, bizarre, and wholly original tale that manages to incorporate love, death, motherhood, séances, and ghost activism.
Recommended by Jill O.
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Jess Walter
[isbn]
How to describe Beautiful Ruins? It's such an odd yet enchanting book. The characters are a quirky mix of the commonplace and the extraordinary: a befuddled innkeeper from a tiny Italian town, a haunted ex-military wannabe novelist, a beautiful but sick young starlet, a hideously nipped-and-tucked aging movie producer, a stranded, strung-out musician, a screenwriter pitching a movie on the Donner Party, and Richard Burton. What? Yes,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Midge Raymond
[isbn]
Raymond's story of a scientist who falls in love with the South Pole and the penguins she studies there is so well researched, it almost reads like nonfiction at times. Combining serious study of climate change, the effect it has on animal life, high-seas adventure, the minute-to-minute changing dangers of water and ice, shipwreck, survival in a hostile climate, with a bit of romance thrown in, Raymond delivers an engaging story with a terrific,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Graham Swift
[isbn]
Graham Swift pens a perfect story of class, love, tragedy, and self-discovery. Jane, a servant to the Niven family, has a longstanding affair with the son of another well-to-do family. On Mothering Sunday, when all the staff is off for the day visiting their own mothers, Jane and Paul share what Jane believes will be their last tryst, as Paul is about to marry. What occurs next will be much more difficult to navigate than the end of their affair.... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Daphne Du Maurier
[isbn]
Part mystery, part Gothic romance, Rebecca is a novel awash in fear, taut suspense, and an overwhelming feeling of doom. The deceased Rebecca has a larger-than-life presence — so much so that the new Mrs. DeWinter's first name is never revealed. But things are not always what they seem. Max DeWinter and his new bride tangle with the creepy housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, and the oppressive presence of Rebecca. With a shocking ending, a... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Kent Haruf
[isbn]
Elderly and widowed, small-town residents Louis and Addie begin a timid, slow affair in order to stave off their solitude. They've both reached the point in their lives when gossip and rumor pale in comparison to the almost desperate need of filling in this aching hole of loneliness. However, as their love cautiously blooms, they begin to feel pressure from outside sources, particularly Addie's son. Just at the point when they realize their... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Saleem Haddad
[isbn]
Guapa takes place over a single day, following Rasa, a young queer Muslim man as he navigates the aftermath of two crises — the sputtering disappointment of the Arab Spring and accompanying authoritarian backlash, and the fact that his domineering grandmother Teta, the only family he has, has just caught him with his lover. Stuck between the social propriety of his grandmother and deeply closeted lover on one side and the passionate... (read more)
Recommended by Patrick D.
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Kevin Sampsell
[isbn]
Sampsell's gorgeous novel is an intricate and layered account of a relationship on its trajectory of either success or failure. The tiny snippets of interaction between the nameless couple begin to pile up and form the texture of this sometimes troubled, sometimes blissful union. The use of "you" and "I" as the only identifiers connects the reader to the characters in a profound way; this relationship is mine and yours and everyone's. Beautifully... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Audrey Niffenegger
[isbn]
This is one of my very favorite books. It's a beautiful love story that's never sappy, and it breaks my heart each time I read it (which I'll keep doing forever). The Time Traveler's Wife is one of those books that make you feel lost without it when it's over.
Recommended by Emily F.
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T Greenwood
[isbn]
T. Greenwood's gorgeous Breathing Water tackles some hefty themes: drug abuse, racism, abusive relationships, tragedy, and loss. But she tempers that darkness with themes of friendship, family, home, and love.
Effie escapes her abusive boyfriend and flees across the county. Three years later, she has reason to return to her beloved childhood home situated on a lake in Vermont. Trying to recover from her horrible ordeal,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Eleanor Catton
[isbn]
Set in 19th-century New Zealand amidst the frenzy of a gold rush, Catton's stunningly ambitious novel pays homage to Victorian masterpieces but is far from traditional. The characters and structure are ruled by the Zodiac, and as the chapters wane in size, powers shift and revelations multiply. A flawlessly executed literary achievement and winner of the 2013 Man Booker Prize.
Recommended by Renee P.
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Michael Chabon
[isbn]
Since winning the Pulitzer Prize for his spectacular 2000 novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon has gone on to write a diverse array of books restrained by neither style nor genre. Of the distinctive qualities to be found within whatever form his versatile storytelling may take is a prose marked by eloquence and vivaciousness, an uncanny ability to immerse his readers within the lives of his characters, and a... (read more)
Recommended by Jeremy G.
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Naomi Novik
[isbn]
I had two books in mind for my top pick of 2015, but Uprooted ultimately won because of its excellent portrayal of friendship between women and the earthy, old-world magical system utilized by protagonist Agnieszka. Novik's writing is always a delight; I wanted to savor the world she created for as long as possible.
Recommended by Shannon B.
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Lian Hearn, Gillian Rubinstein
[isbn]
The first in a trilogy, Across the Nightingale Floor is being compared with the likes of the Pullman Trilogy, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings and rightly so. The story line follows Takeo and Kaede, who are each torn from their families in a time of persecution bordering on war, only to discover that their fate is bound to a purpose higher than they ever could have imagined. It's an amazing story, beautifully written, and... (read more)
Recommended by Aubrey W.
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