The Art Spy: the Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland by Michelle Young

29 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Biography, History, Non-fiction

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I’ve read many books about France during World War II, but this story was new to me. “The Art Spy” follows Rose Valland, a real woman working in Paris art museums when the Nazis invaded. Along with others, she took great risks to subvert the Nazis and save as much art as she could. This is a really interesting work of nonfiction.

“Journalist Young recaps the exploits of French Resistance hero Rose Valland in this thrilling saga… Readers will relish this riveting tale of a clever war hero playing the long game against bumbling fascists.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The story of Valland’s courage and dedication to art and justice is compelling and inspiring… Ideal for fans of espionage and strong narrative nonfiction that reads like a compelling novel.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Young recounts Valland’s brilliance, courage, and sangfroid in enthralling detail as she chronicles her daring work to save the museum’s treasures and her shrewd spying for the Resistance… like Valland’s zealous rescue of stolen masterpieces, Young vibrantly restores a hidden treasure to the pantheon of WWII heroes.” — Booklist (starred review)

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Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel

22 Friday Aug 2025

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

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Highlighted by 797 Kindle readers:  “There is a kind of love that strikes like a thunderbolt; it blinds you, yet opens your eyes to see the world anew. Within its light, a pathway was illuminated.” This is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

“Set against a panorama so vivid you can almost hear the jazz in Aiyi Shao’s nightclub, Weina Dai Randel brings to life fascinating WWII history new to me and, I imagine, countless other readers. The story of a well-born entrepreneur and the German-Jewish refugee she loves will stay with you long after The Last Rose of Shanghai ends.” —Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

“Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, this is an unforgettable, page-turning tale of an impossible affair between lovers from two cultures. Randel casts an unflinching eye at the horrors of wartime Shanghai, where refugees starve while the wealthy and privileged continue to drink and dance, and where daily threats of danger and death only serve to fan forbidden passions to a blazing climax.” —Janie Chang, bestselling author of Dragon Springs Road and The Library of Legends

“In a novel that spans time, space, and culture, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a riveting story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The smoky night clubs, jazz bars, luxury hotels, family compounds, and refugee settlements of Japanese-occupied Shanghai provide a fascinating background to the lives of those caught in the crossfires of war. Weina Dai Randel is a skilled artist, giving the reader well drawn characters of great depth, complexity, and heart. In the WWII genre, within the genre of historical fiction, The Last Rose of Shanghai stands out for its boldness and originality.” —Erika Robuck, bestselling author of The Invisible Woman

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Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

15 Friday Aug 2025

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Cate Kay is a pseudonym for the author of a global bestseller being adapted into a movie at the beginning of this novel. As the book progresses, we learn more about the real woman behind the name and the childhood friendship that shapes her life. Full of interesting characters, this story is told through multiple perspectives and I highly recommend the audiobook.

“An electrifying story of a bestselling author’s secrets. Fagan fascinates with her enigmatic and shape-shifting protagonist, and the tightly woven plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It’s a blast.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“An emotionally driven thriller that explores friendship, love, and the pitfalls of fame. I couldn’t stop reading this twisty, big-hearted novel. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is simply unputdownable! Kate Fagan is a masterful storyteller.” —Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of The Return of Ellie Black

“An addictive page-turner infused with humor and heart, The Three Lives of Cate Kay balances the dishy allure of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with the empathy of Slow Dance. A joy to read from first page to last.” —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

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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

Posted by in adventure, fantasy, Fiction, magic, thriller

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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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