Heather's 2021 reading list

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

“Road trips are great for audiobooks! The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig is the perfect listen for cozying up under a blanket and ruminating in your melancholy. I know it sounds super depressing, but it's actually oddly comforting. The author's voice is really soothing, so it wasn't the best for a long drive, but I still really enjoyed it.”

Anna, Katy Budget Books

A bold, urgent argument on the misplacement of value in financial markets and how we can and need to maximize value for the many, not few.
As an economist and former banker, Mark Carney has spent his life in various financial roles, in both the public and private sector. VALUE(S) is a meditation on his experiences that examines the short-comings... Read more »

The New York Times bestseller with more than 1 million copies sold worldwide

Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds. 
 
“Love in the face of global adversity? It... Read more »

A modern, practical, and inspiring guide to creating deep heart connections with kids by regularly creating new experiences and intentional adventures together.

Parents today complain of fragmented relationships with their kids. What parents yearn for--and their kids too--is deep, heart-to-heart connections. But how can parents compete with all...

#1 New York Times Bestseller

What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.

Adrift in a raft after a deadly...

If you enjoyed Uprooted, then you’ll love The Bear and the Nightingale.

“These two books have a very similar feel! I will often hear that one reminded someone of the other, and both are fantastic worlds with strong female leads.”

Kate, Ballast Book Co.

A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.

Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian... Read more »

The Winter of the Witch

“The Winter of the Witch takes place immediately after the events in The Girl in the Tower. The world of the old gods is fading, and a new religion is claiming the hearts of Vasya’s people. Rus is on the brink of war, and Vasya, it seems, is up against the whole world. With the help of new allies, Vasya is determined to save all that she holds dear even if it means sacrificing everything. Vasya is the kind of character you cheer for, cry with, and roar alongside. ‘Petrichor,’ the word used to describe that sweet, earthy smell after it rains, is how I would describe the Winternight Trilogy. Arden’s storytelling encompasses all your senses, so grab a hot mug of your favorite drink and settle in for Vasya’s adventures in The Winter of the Witch.”

Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company

The Last Thing He Told Me

“I adore Laura Dave and absolutely loved The Last Thing He Told Me. Wonderful characters, amazing writing, and a twisty plot kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Truly unputdownable and a thoroughly enjoyable read!”

Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield's Books Healdsburg

"Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney plumbs the depths of marriage, motherhood and friendship with warmth and wit. I devoured it in one gulp!  Treat yourself to some Good Company." —Maria Semple, author of Today Will Be Different

A warm, incisive new novel about the enduring bonds of marriage and friendship from Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of the...

The Four Winds

“I devoured Kristin Hannah’s masterful work of historical fiction, narrated by one of the best audiobook narrators working today, Julia Whelan. I found myself desperately rooting for the Martinelli family as they face a persistent series of crises during the Great Depression & the Dust Bowl. This is character driven storytelling at its best — each time I stepped away from it I couldn’t stop thinking about them. The Four Winds is a deeply moving story about a particularly dark era of profoundly relevant American history. BONUS: This audiobook edition includes an interview with author and narrator at the end!”

Josh, Underground Books

"Ashley C. Ford brings listeners into her life in this outstanding coming-of-age story...Listeners will cheer as Ford attends college and weep as she visits her father in prison, and when he is finally released." -- AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner

This program is read by the author, and includes a bonus conversation between the author...

A “beautiful and astonishing” (Walter Isaacson, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Code Breaker) narrative that examines the many ways to be fully human, told by the first young adult with autism to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

As a child, Jory Fleming was wracked by uncontrollable tantrums, had no tolerance for... Read more »

A Slow Fire Burning

“A Slow Fire Burning is full of clever twists, furnishes you with a steady stream of possible clues to keep your brain working, and tells each character's story in a way that I found deeply satisfying. It pushed all the right buttons for me for both a good British mystery and a good psychological thriller, and I especially loved spending a couple of days in its picturesque setting along the Regent's Canal in London.”

Rachel, The Book Table

2021 AudioFile Best Audiobooks
2021 Washington Post Best Books of the Year

From Liane Moriarty, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, comes Apples Never Fall, an audiobook that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest.

The Delaney family love one...

Wish You Were Here

“This book was very well written, and although I enjoyed the writing itself, I was disappointed with the political-ness of the storyline. Did not like the big plot twist half way through. It was far fetched and took away from the where the story line was headed. That being said, I thought the narrator was great. She did an amazing job of bringing the characters and the locations to life for the reader. This one was just ok for me.”

Julie, Gottwals Books