Heartwood : a Novel by Amity Gaige

08 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in action, adventure, detective, Fiction, mystery, nature, suspense, thriller, United States

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“A literary thriller of the highest order” (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Couple), Heartwood takes you on a gripping journey as a search and rescue team race against time after an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. (Amazon)

“A crackling adventure story, a meditation on the fraught human connection to nature, and a subtle examination of the rocky relationships between mothers and daughters that shape the lives of its women characters, the novel tightens its grip as it moves toward uncovering its central mysteries.”—BOOKLIST, Starred Review

“The best thriller of 2025.” —The Boston Globe 

“Heartwood by Amity Gaige shines as a gritty, evocative and heart-stopping wilderness thriller. Yet this journey into the harshness of nature and the horror of being lost, is also a beautifully crafted eulogy to human survival and an ode to the power of the spirit as it echoes between the generations. An unforgettable treat from first page to last.”—JANICE HALLETT, bestselling author of The Twyford Code

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33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen

28 Monday Jul 2025

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction

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“An outstanding debut novel—a love story, mystery, and philosophical puzzle, told in the singular voices of the residents of a Beaux Arts apartment house in Belgium during World War II.” (Amazon)

“Alice Austen uses her considerable gifts to remind us that the past and the present are more connected than we wish to believe, and that vigilance, loyalty and art hold the key to survival. This is a beautiful and deeply engaging novel.” — Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake

“A work of art—stylish, charming and magnetic. There is a crisp immediacy in the writing so that the eve of a world war is now, here, close and not in the sepia colored past.” — Leila Aboulela, author of River Spirit, A New York Times Best Historical Fiction Book of the Year

“Through an arresting symphony of the residents’ voices, debut novelist Austen carves a special place in the much-surveyed landscape of Holocaust fiction, especially in her homage to the importance of art. Equally remarkable is her ability to bestow attention on each of the many characters while still driving the plot forward . . . In a powerfully well-written novel, the most chilling thought is subtly said, ‘What is thinkable is also possible.’” — Poornima Apt, Booklist (starred review)

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The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss

21 Monday Jul 2025

Posted by in History, Non-fiction, United States

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Goodreads Choice Award Winner in History & Biography One of Time’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2024

“An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations.” (dust jacket blurb)

“A series of thirteen mini-profiles of notable bookstores and their owners. . . . Friss sees the small bookstore in contemporary America as a haven from commercialism—a place where books are treated as more than mere merchandise—and as a community-building space. . . . In Friss’s account, the bookstore survives by redefining itself.”—The New Yorker

“It is a delight to wander through the bookstores of American history in this warm, generous book.” —Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author and owner of Books Are Magic

“Upbeat and immersive. . . . An entrancing deep dive into the book industry.”—Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)

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The Amalfi Curse: A Bewitching Tale of Sunken Treasure, Forbidden Love, and Ancient Magic on the Amalfi Coast  by Sarah Penner

14 Monday Jul 2025

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“A rousing story of witches, deep sea diving, and family secrets on the Amalfi Coast… Penner keeps the pages turning with cliffhangers and complex characters. The author’s fans will enjoy this adventure.” —Publishers Weekly

“A mystical page-turner that will leave readers spellbound.”—Booklist

“Penner’s latest is her best yet—a thrill-seeking ride through the world of underwater archeology, the archives of Naples, and a coven of witches who will stop at nothing to protect those they love. Readers will be spellbound by this atmospheric, unmissable stunner. Pure magic!” —Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

“An atmospheric and spellbinding tale brimming with powerful magic, The Amalfi Curse transports readers to the dazzling Italian coast with vivid prose and page-turning adventure. A stunning novel!” —Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana

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Antidote: a Novel by Karen Russell

02 Wednesday Jul 2025

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction, United States

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The Antidote opens on Black Sunday, as a historic dust storm ravages the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. But Uz is already collapsing–not just under the weight of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought, but beneath its own violent histories.  Excellent historical fiction – couldn’t put this book down.

“An inspired and unforgettable fusion of the gritty and the fantastic.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The Antidote blends speculative and fantasy elements with rich language and vivid characters in an effort not to escape reality but to comment even more thoughtfully on it. . . . Russell’s lyrical writing dazzles on every page.” —The New York Times

“An ardent work of encompassing and compassionate historical fiction supercharged with her signature imaginative, astutely calibrated supernatural twists. A dramatic and uncanny tale of the drastic consequences of our destruction of nature and Indigenous communities.” — Booklist (starred review)


“The most salient quality of The Antidote is the beauty and power of Russell’s writing. . . . The Antidote is clearly the work of a writer with prodigious gifts.” —The Guardian

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Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

27 Friday Jun 2025

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Percy and Joe meet in college and bond over their love of music. As they fall in and out of love and each other’s lives, songwriting remains their strongest connection. This is a thoughtful novel that’s as much about music and creativity as it is about relationships.

“[D]azzling.”—Booklist, starred review

“I absolutely loved Deep Cuts—clever and heart-wrenching and addictive, the kind of novel that grabs you in an instant and takes you reeling through its pages.”—Miranda Cowley Heller, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Paper Palace

“[R]ock novels are historically lame. Or a reboot of truth . . . But something brand new, that encompasses the reality and truth of being a music fan? I’m not sure any book exists that nails it as well as Deep Cuts.”—Bob Lefsetz, The Lefsetz Letter

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Brothers by Alex Van Halen

23 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in Biography, memoir, Non-fiction, United States

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I enjoyed the stories of family, friendship, and brotherhood. Throughout the book Alex Van Halen commented on quotes written about the band. This writing style made the memoir feel  conversational. 

“Most importantly, Brothers is a love letter to the music they created and Eddie, who has been called for decades one of the greatest guitarists of all time.” — NPR‘s Fresh Air

“A poignant love letter from Alex to his brother and bandmate Eddie.” — People

“The tome is undeniably emotional, with some passages written directly to his late brother.” — Billboard

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Broken Country: a Novel by Clare Leslie Hall

16 Monday Jun 2025

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As a young woman, Beth falls in love with a wealthy neighbor but ends up married to someone else. When her first love comes back into her life years later, it triggers conflict for her marriage and their small English town. This book was a page-turning mix of romance, action, and poignancy.

“Broken Country is at its heart a novel about love and loss, about selfishness and selflessness, and about the consequences of decisions made for these reasons. Each decision is driven by the one before it, and Beth, especially, is stretched to her breaking point. Both aching and thrilling, Broken Country is a masterful book by an accomplished author.”—Booklist

“Hall serves up twist after twist in her canny U.S. debut, a story of grief, love, and murder set in the Dorset countryside. This sharp morality tale will stay with readers.”—Publishers Weekly

“A love story like no other. By turns a searing mystery, and a brilliant and beautiful look at the price of a second chance, and the complex notion of fate and forgiveness. Stunning.”—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

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The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction, suspense

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“It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be–led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season….” (Amazon)

* SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 BOOKER PRIZE *

* WINNER OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION *

“Remarkable…Compelling…Fine and taut…Indelible.” —The New York Times • “Moving, unnerving, and deeply sexy.” —Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with the Pearl Earring • “A brilliant debut, as multi-faceted as a gem.” —Kirkus Reviews

A “razor-sharp, perfectly plotted” (The Sunday Times, London) tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961—a powerful exploration of the legacy of WWII and the darker parts of our collective past.

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Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope by Amanda Nguyen

29 Thursday May 2025

Posted by in Biography, memoir, Non-fiction

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Nguyen writes about her ambition to become an astronaut and the attack (rape) while a student at Harvard that interrupted her plans. While she doesn’t describe the assault in graphic detail, she does describe the aftermath as well as her experience advocating for her and other victims’ rights. This book is very well written, but might be triggering for survivors of sexual assault or their loved ones. 

“I am in awe of Amanda Nguyen’s courage in sharing her story and her fight to support survivors. As a survivor, I know how painful it is to revisit and recount the horror of rape and sexual abuse, along with the shame, stigma, and doubt that comes with it. Today, Amanda is more than just that story―she’s an astronaut, an author, an activist, and a champion for all.” ―Nadia Murad, recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize

“If Saving Five doesn’t inspire you, check your pulse. It is an extraordinary testimony of resilience, persistence, and ambition. While Amanda’s history-making journey alone could have carried this memoir, it’s also a feat of formal invention, lyrical prose, and a gifted storyteller’s sense of suspense. I was mesmerized from page one to its triumphant ending.” ―Mitchell S. Jackson, author of Survival Math, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“Saving Five is an extraordinarily moving account of Amanda Nguyen’s pursuit of justice and healing for herself and for millions of survivors around the world. Amanda’s story―innovatively told by versions of herself at different ages―underscores the lasting power of speaking your truth, building a movement, and never losing sight of your dreams.” ―Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder, Pivotal

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