A couple of friends stumble upon some literal movie magic! This is another great story by the writer of Mexican Gothic. It contains a few bits of film history & lore." -Rowan
Relentlessly & quietly disturbing, the novel's main character, Alex scams, steals, & flirts herself into the lives of the wealthy. Though dark & edgy, Cline's precise, true prose has me hopeful for a sequel to the cliffhanger ending." -Nancy
Deeply researched, full of power and poetry. It delves into the complex relationships among US soldiers in Vietnam, the people they fought & befriended there, and the cultures of both countries." -Christie
Brace yourself for a terrible protagonist spiraling into increasingly desperate meltdowns in this satire on the publishing industry. Kuang is upfront in her critiques of the industry, perhaps heavy handed at times, but there is nuance beneath the spectacle. A total page-turner that had me screaming!" -Molly
Wow!! Truly, a psychological thriller at it's best. Masterful writing develops this layered plot packed with creepy characters and so may unexpected twists and turns. Set in present-day London about a podcast too juicy to believe." -Nancy
Remarkable storytelling! It draws a link between missing/murdered inigenous women and violence against the environment - all in the conext of a body-on-page-one murder mystery. A rewarding read." -Christie
Stumble through 1947 San Francisco amidst a dark humorous world of smoke-filled nightclubs, mysterious statues, and the best drag kings the city by the bay has to offer... packed into one amazingly fun genre-bending, paranormal, fast-paced, dramatic, crime noir thriller that you'll hate to put down." -Rob
Graphic violence and body horror, plus critique of gender, meditation on disability, and yearning for connection. This book is gorgeous, disgusting, delicious, and queer AF. I loved it." -Molly
Pop a pill and get haunted! When a group of friends go to a graveyard at night and do drugs to help them see ghosts, they get exactly what they wanted, which turns out to be more than they bargained for. This book is FUN, SPOOKY, and INTENSE, filled with HAIR-ON-YOUR-ARM-STANDING-UP action! The scares are amazing!" -Rob
Deliciously twisted, superbly written, and the best example of a psychological thriller!!!" Recommended by Nancy
Imagine having to return to the hometown you couldn't wait to get out of and staying in a haunted house while you're there. Then, tell that story with horror and humor and believable characters. That's what Hendrix does. I love this book!!" -Rob
*A Haunting Story * Beautifully written *Deserves all of the awards." -Rowan
A monk goes on a pilgrimage and befriends a robot. This is crazy sci-fi with a warm spiritual vibe. Greatly uplifting." -Rowan
Much of what's notable about the Librarianist are the quiet parts - BobComet's introvertedness and the people not present. They fill the book." -Rowan
Lots of fun, but serious and well-written. Perfect, right? Bonus: you learn about the roots of West Coast country music. I hadn't heard of the "Bakersfield Sound." Now I know! -Recommended by Christie
Winnette's writing has an "underneath" to it, a nagging vagueness that bores into you & unnerves you. He knows how people don't communicate, don't connect, don't act- the way they stay in their own head & refrain from just saying what they mean. And he knows how to write tension and anxiety. This book is tense. -Recommended by Rowan
A beautiful tapestry with a gorgeous narrative running through it. The characters come alive with distinct voices. The arc, from boarding school revolution to speculative fiction ending, is marvelous. -Recommended by Rowan
This one is for my brave readers: those who appreciate difficult stories, brilliantly told. One family tries to navigate brutal social divisions in 1940s Trinidad, with unexpected results. -Recommended by Christie
A subtly layered & intensely engrossing investigation in a gothic Glasgow setting, this book is an amazing & unsettling read with a cast of true-to-life a-typical characters led by a queer auctioneer in the not-so-long ago, before it was "safe" to be out and proud. -Recommended by Lauren
*A mother witnesses her son commit an unspeakable act. *She wakes up, the day before, desperate to stop the murder from happening. *She wakes up the day before the day before, realizing that something bigger is unfolding. *This is a mind-bending, page turning, edge of your seat mystery. Can you solve it before it happens? *Amazing story-telling! -Recommended by Rob
Most definitely, this summer's "IT" beach read!! What really happened at Oxford University that glorious evening ten years ago??
An eclectic assortment of college pals and an odd University employee, power this psychological thriller. -Recommended by Nancy
Set in the Swiss Alps, this most layered mystery will stun readers with its tantalizing plot twists, unique characters, and overall creativity. Humor, wisdom, and masterful writing develop this truly original mystery. - Nancy Recommends
If you haven't read T. Kingfisher, you need to, now. And this re-telling of Poe's Fall of the House of Usher is a great place to start! For anyone who's read a Gothic short, shivered, the found themselves wondering "but why?" Harrowing and hilarious- I could not put it down! -Recommended by Lauren
An elegant, thoughtful novel set on the Maine coast during the early days of the pandemic. Walk with Lucy along the shore as she befriends like-minded and not-so-like-minded folks struggling with life's uncertainties. Brilliant Writing, of course! -Recommended by Nancy
Hands down, this is my favorite book I've read this year. It's a dark academia/ historical fantasy that punches its own genre in the face. It broke my heart and I loved every minute of it. Ten out of ten. No note. -Recommended by Molly
I cannot praise this magnificent mystery enough! Narrated by the kindly Daisey Darker and set in the isolated, crumbling family mansion on the rocky Cornish coast, the Darker family reunites for the final time. Much wisdom and many surprises make this novel impossible to put down until the last delicious page. -Recommended by Nancy
One of the best mysteries I've read! Molly Maid, narrator and protagonist, delights in sanitizing the Regency Grand's rooms. Her refreshingly sweet and insightful persona unpacks the evil "dirt" polluting the dusty corners of the hotel. Wonderful writing!!" -Recommended by Nancy
A Journey forward toward a goal. A journey backward explaining why. A gut punch of a book. -Recommended by Rowan
Why is a hero set an impossible task? So they wont be able to do it. So whatever was asked in return wiill not have to be given, because it also cannot be taken back. This feminist fable wears the well-loved skin of a fairy tale, absorbing & eerie, funny & tragic by turns. Fans of Robin McKinley, Peter S. Beagle, Patricia A. McKillip, & Peter Dickinson, you need to read T. Kingfisher now! -Recommended by Lauren
"Wonderfull! Intelligent! Delightful! Worth cheering about! My new favorite bookshop book. (There's a great audio version at Libro.fm)" Recommended by Alena
"A romantic telling of real-life people and events. A love letter to literature and how it transforms us. A fight against censorships. This book is my jam!" Recommended by Rowan
An introspective vampire coming-of-age novel about art, legacy, fitting in, and being an outsider. Beautifully descriptive and morbid in a curiously life affirming way. It left me feeling happily melancholy." -Recommended by Molly
"A wickedly good mystery set in an American boarding school. How bad can the food be? Bizarre plot twists and crafty characters will keep readers engaged and guessing." Recommended by Nancy
A juicy psychological thriller packed with layers of plot twists surrounding a popular therapist, his brilliant professor-wife, and a very generous landlord. Be prepared to read this in one sitting!! -Recommended by Nancy
McClain creates moments of sustained terror as her detective/narrator, a product of the foster home system, discovers a riveting truth about adolescent love, loss, and inner-strength. -Recommended by Nancy
"If you enjoyed Monae's Dirty Computer, you'll love her further exploration of Memory, Time & Tie travel, Sexuality, and Marginalizationin a dystopian near-future. This dirty computer loved it!" -Recommended by Rowan
A quick but creepy read filled with paranormal eeriness. If you never thought a five year old could be creepy, this book will put pictures in your head you cannot unsee. It's a clever good scare from a favorite new author. -Recommended by Rob
"In a world where the Library of Alexandria did not burn, but was hidden by a secret society with access to all scientific and magical knowledge. 6 Talented magicians compete for 5 positions in the society. Compelling, layered charaters and thought-provoking magic. For fans of Dark Academia & The Magicians." -Recommended by Julie
"All of Emily Henry's romances are delightful. This one is no different with witty banter, emotional depth, and a satisfying enemies-to-lovers romance. I couldn't put this smart, funny, book down!" -Recommended by Julie
"This book follows the long and fraught friendship of Sam and Sadie. It's an immersive world, full of references, parallels, and where one learns that the "play's" the thing, even when one hurts." Recommended by Rowan.
"Powerful!! Intriguing characters expose the exploitation and sexualization of teen girls in Paris during the 1980s to the present. Lafton brilliantly inspires the readers to challenge the casual attitudes that dehumanize women." -recommended by Nancy
Ironically, Klara is anything but an "artificial friend" to her human, Josie. Consistently thought provoking as Ishiguro ponders futuristic scenarios that challenge the ethos of love and friendships. Recommended by Nancy.
A Too-Good-Too-Short magical realism fantasy about innocence, memory, connection with the earth, and impossible spaces. The story is told through the journals of it's titular character, who lives in an infinite expanse by the sea. Susanna Clarke plays with dramatic irony in such an endearingly clever way. Fantastic stuff. -Connor
"A masterfully crafted mystery set at an over-the-top wedding on a gloomy island off the coast of Ireland. So may unexpected moments make this a truly satisfying read." -Nancy
"Ever wonder how an idealist could morph into an authoritarian ruler? Join a midlife woman in this absorbing novel as she travels to an African nation to find the father she never knew, in what also becomes a journey of self-discovery." -Jeanette
A filmmaker goes deep into the hinterland to make a documentary about the residents who vanished from Silvertjarn back in 1959. What she finds is more horrifying than she could ever have imagined. Dark, eerie, & will haunt you long after you've finished it. I really think this is the horror I've been looking for. Recommended by Rob
"A funny and deep story of a grumpy old lady finding a way to not be so...
Every aging woman will enjoy." Recommended by Mary
Recommended by a horror lover AND a non-horror lover!
Final Girl Support Group is:
- A story using all the horror movie tropes you grew up on
- Beautifully told by an unreliable narrator
- Horrifying, humorous, clever, and oddly realistic
- A place where the final girls dare to survive.
"This author has a way of writing crucial, intimate stories so softly. A gentle, quiet family man pays attention and casually but firmly comes to the aid of a girl in need.
A sweet but smart story for men and women readers." Recommended by Mary
Mary Jane is simply the most refreshing book I've read all year! For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and for adults who did their thing when they were kids, despite what adults told them. Trust me. You'll love it!! Recommended by Rob