Mad March Staff Picks

The #1 New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon

Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Books of the Year

"A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits."—The Washington Post

The dazzling reader-favorite about the choices that go into a life well... Read more »

“Suspenseful…emotionally compelling. I found myself eagerly following in a way I hadn’t remembered for a long time, impatient for the next twist and turn of the story."—NPRAn Afghan American woman returns to Kabul to learn the truth about her family and the tragedy that destroyed their lives in this brilliant and compelling novel from the... Read more »

The Other Bennet Sister

“True to Austen and thoroughly enjoyable The Other Bennet Sister follows Mary, the middle sister of Jane Austen's infamous family. Mary is the bookish one of the family and not interested in the frivolous social nuances of the times. She is sensitive and smart and interested in history, the natural world, and (gasp) not whom she should marry! Will she follow her heart, or the outlandish expectations of her mother and society? This is a coming-of-age story of a forward-thinking woman learning to accept herself and her passion. Don’t miss this if you are an Austen fan. Mendonca is a wonderful narrator.”

Karin, Bookworm of Edwards

If you enjoyed Lovecraft Country, then you’ll love Ring Shout.

“Great for fans of Lovecraft Country, Ring Shout takes very real terrors and mixes them with demonic horrors that feed off hatred and racism in a fast paced novella you won't want to put down. ”

Dany, Rediscovered Books

“Ladee Hubbard’s voice is a welcome original.” —Mary GaitskillUpstairs, Downstairs meets Parasite: The acclaimed author of The Talented Ribkins deconstructs painful African American stereotypes and offers a fresh and searing critique on race, class, privilege, ambition, exploitation, and the seeds of rage in America in this intricately woven and... Read more »

Eight Perfect Murders

“Peter Swanson is one of my favorite authors. His books just keep getting better. Eight Perfect Murders is my favorite so far. It opens introducing Malcolm, who is a widower and owner of a book store in Boston. An FBI agent enters one snowy day and introduces herself as Gwen and asks him if she can speak to him for a few minutes. Gwen says that she believes a recent murder is connected to a blog that Malcolm wrote several years ago. The post details eight mystery novels that stage the perfect murder. She hasn't read many and Mal is happy to give her a few from the list. They meet the next day and discuss each book and why the particular murder is perfect. They keep in touch and in days another murder happens. There is a multitude of hair-raising twists and turns. The story is well-crafted and oh so clever. Malcolm is the sole narrator and he is positively mesmerizing. I highly recommend this page-turner. The book narrator has a crisp voice and reads with his heart and soul.No doubt about it - Eight Perfect Murders will be on my top five best books of 2020.”

Melinda, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Readers and critics alike raved over USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s smash hit debut novel, The Hating Game—which sold in over 20 countries. Now she’s back with an unforgettable romantic comedy about a twin sister and brother struggling over an inheritance—and the sexy best friend who comes between them.Crush: a strong and often... Read more »

Valentine

“Before starting this book, you should block out the next 24 hours on your calendar because you will not be able to do anything else. Valentine is reminiscent of Disappearing Earth in its multi-voice portrayal of the vulnerability, resilience, solidarity, fury, and tenacity of girls and women in the man’s world of oil-booming West Texas in the 1970s. These unforgettable characters are the spiritual sisters of Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights. I was haunted by them, I rooted for them, I’ve been them, and I won’t forget them.”

Rebekah Shoaf, Boogie Down Books

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

“Do not let this slim volume deceive you—these stories are powerful, fierce, funny and sad. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to in a long time. Stunning!”

Jennifer, East City Bookshop

Infinite Country

“This beautiful novel exploring the past and present of a Colombian family that is separated by deportation is timely and impactful. The Andean myths sprinkled throughout are significant to the narrative. Engel’s writing is magnificent and I believe Ines del Castillo’s narration really captures the soul of this story.”

Amanda, Carmichael's Bookstore

Now a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, USA Today bestselling author Sally Thorne’s hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.                     2) A person’s undoing                     3) Joshua TemplemanLucy... Read more »

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, and Charlotte Rampling.

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as... Read more »

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race, an  “illuminating” (New York Times Book Review) history of white male identity.

What happens to a country that tells generation after generation of white men that they deserve power? What happens when success is defined by status over women and people of color,... Read more »

If you change your brain, you can change your life.Great teachers like the Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, and Gandhi were all born with brains built essentially like anyone else’s―and then they changed their brains in ways that changed the world. Science is now revealing how the flow of thoughts actually sculpts the brain, and more and more, we... Read more »

Made in China

“This powerful story arises from an improbable source: a crude, hand-written note slipped into Halloween merchandise made in China, a note that leads Pang on a search for its author and introduces her to the nightmare life of Chinese prison labor, so-called re-education camps, the worst horrors of living in a police state, and lives destroyed just for being an independent thinker. The toll on individuals is foregrounded here and summons us to be humane to all.”

Susan Thurin, MainStreet BookEnds of Warner

Dare to Lead

“I LOVE this book. I learned so much during my first listen via Libro.fm that I am going to read it again (this time in hardcover, with colleagues reading alongside so we can discuss). It's super-motivating and inspiring, but totally research-based. I feel that leaders at every type of organization would benefit from reading this. (Also: I got to interview Brené Brown about vulnerability and leadership in Feb. 2021 and it was a career/life highlight!) ”

Janet, Avid Bookshop

"Actor Soler's lively narration swiftly draws listeners into the magical spectacle at the center of Garber's YA novel" — Publishers Weekly, best audiobooks of 2017

This program includes a bonus interview with the author.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval — Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter... Read more »

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love, and redemption. Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all... Read more »

#1 bestselling author Stephenie Meyer makes a triumphant return to the world of Twilight with this highly anticipated companion: the iconic love story of Bella and Edward told from the vampire's point of view.
When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the... Read more »

From New York Times best-selling author Amy Tintera, a high-stakes sci-fi adventure about a teen girl who will do anything to escape her troubled home—even if that means joining a dangerous monster-fighting squad. Perfect for fans of Warcross and Renegades. 

Seventeen-year-old Clara is ready to fight back. Fight back against her abusive father,... Read more »