Early Summer Faves: 31 Bookseller-Picked Listens

Introducing Claudia Lin: a sharp-witted amateur sleuth for the 21st century. This debut novel follows Claudia as she verifies people's online lives, and lies, for a dating detective agency in New York City. Until a client with an unusual request goes missing. . . .

“The world of social media, big tech and internet connectivity provides fertile... Read more »

Lessons in Chemistry

“Loved this book! I laughed out loud, I cried, and it made my blood boil. Elizabeth Zott is one of a kind. I wish she was real and I could travel back in time to watch Supper at Six! Expertly narrated by Miranda Raison.”

Kristine, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Let's Not Do That Again

“Politics, family dysfunction, drug addiction, bad behavior — what could possibly go wrong? This extremely readable novel about a New York City political family will grab you right away. The perfect antidote to today’s headlines.”

Terry Gilman, Creating Conversations

Inspired by Mrs. Dalloway and Sula, The Days of Afrekete is a tender, surprising novel of two women at midlife who rediscover themselves—and perhaps each other.

Liselle Belmont is having a dinner party. It seems a strange occasion—her husband, Winn, has lost his bid for the state legislature and they're having the key supporters over to thank... Read more »

Sea of Tranquility

“I highly recommend this book! Emily is amazing! I love that this book incorporates characters and elements from her previous two books, but with a completely new plot: time travel. It’s also very meta in that one of the characters is an author who is on a book tour to promote her bestseller about a pandemic. And, as it happens, there is a pandemic in one of the timelines. At one point, a journalist says to the author character, 'So I’m guessing I’m not the first to ask you what it’s like to be the author of a pandemic novel during a pandemic.' So it’s quite self-referential but in a very clever and fun way that doesn’t distract from the story. There’s a lot going on here, and I love the way Emily always ties every single strand together at the end. So satisfying.”

Donna, A Great Good Place for Books

A VULTURE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (SO FAR)
 
“Ho's debut work is the perfect modern example of great American fiction. . . . You will love it.” —Jake Tapper

“Intimate, cinematic. . . . The world Ho creates between the two women feels like one friend reading the other’s story, wishing she were there.”
—The New York Times Book Review
  
“Fiona And Jane... Read more »

This delightful debut rom-com follows the adventures of a woman trying to connect with her South Asian roots and introduces readers to a memorable cast of characters in a veritable feast of food, family traditions, and fun.

Manny Dogra is the beautiful young CEO of Breakup, a highly successful company that helps people manage their relationship... Read more »

Two American ex-pats obsessed with the Amanda Knox trial find themselves at the nexus of murder and celebrity in glittering late-aughts Berlin in this “hugely entertaining” (The New York Times) debut with a wicked sense of humor.
 
“Darkly funny, psychologically rich and utterly addictive... [a] harrowing tale of twisty female friendships,... Read more »

The Chosen and the Beautiful

“What would you give up to have it all? Magical and queer as hell, Jordan Baker takes readers through Jazz Age New York as her snark, rage, and feelings for Daisy keep us turning pages until early morning. Like one of Gatsby’s cursed parties, this book was one I wanted to never end.”

Abby Rice, The Briar Patch

If you enjoyed One for the Money "International Edition", then you’ll love Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

“Overall, a really fun audiobook with an engaging Findlay Donovan, a romance writer. She’s a bit of a hot mess, with a missed deadline, 2 small (and bratty kids), overdue bills and a custody fight with a cheating ex-husband. A misunderstanding at a meeting with her agent, she unwittingly comes under contract to kill an abusive spouse. Hijinks ensue but she finds a friend in her former nanny and her writers block is conquered. If you enjoy Stephanie Plum or Izzy Spellman, you will enjoy this as well.”

Audrey, Belmont Books

The Golden Couple

“Yes! What makes a great thriller? A therapist who has lost her license in the quest of doing what SHE thinks is right. An affair. A couple who seems too good to be true, and their emotional reactions mirror that. The sneaking suspicion of being watched... so many levels of being watched. Avery, the therapist who seems like a detective, starts her non-traditional therapy process with her new clients, her 'golden couple,' who are coming to therapy because of a one-night-affair, but things don’t add up. While Avery expects some glossing over of the truth, she generally doesn't have a curve ball every session. Can they fix what is broken? What is the cost of safety and security? The characters are intriguing and I had no clue who I should be rooting for until the conclusion. Very enjoyable.”

Emma, Content

If you enjoyed Convenience Store Woman, then you’ll love Joan Is Okay.

“This book about a doctor navigating work and personal life questions and struggles pre- and post-Covid was reminiscent of Convenience Store Woman and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine but it also felt original and fresh. The main character was believable and lovable and the writing was solid, insightful, funny and moving. I only wished there had been a little more of this book to love, but also liked its sparseness. This might be my favourite book of the year so far!”

Tracey, Turning the Tide Bookstore

The Unsinkable Greta James

“The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith is just plain AWESOME! Greta is a rising indie musician who finds herself on an Alaskan cruise with her dad after her mom dies unexpectedly, she splits with her music producer boyfriend, and had a major meltdown at her last public appearance three months prior. Greta needs a reset. She has to decide what is most important to her-whether she really can make her dreams come true. Add in Ben, the visiting Jack London scholar, and you have a novel with the perfect combo of an unexpected romance and family angst. Pick up your copy today-trust me, you’ll thank me.”

Kathleen, A Great Good Place for Books

“Theroux’s work is like no one else’s.” –Francine Prose, New York Times Book Review

From legendary writer Paul Theroux comes an atmospheric novel following a big-wave surfer as he confronts aging, privilege, mortality, and whose lives we choose to remember.

Now in his sixties, big-wave surfer Joe Sharkey has passed his prime and is losing his...

Known for her wonderfully addictive characters, multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian introduces her newest heroine in this heartfelt series debut. Under Lock & Skeleton Key layers stunning architecture with mouthwatering food in an ode to classic locked-room mysteries that will leave readers enchanted.

An impossible crime. A family...

“Difficult to put down. . . . The novel is itself like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable. . . . Lines blur and expectations aren’t met, keeping readers on their toes. . . . makes for a surprisingly fast-paced Palm Beach.” —Associated Press

A thought-provoking page-turner from the author of When You Read This and...

“A pure delight! Effortlessly cool, razor sharp, and crazy fun—I couldn’t put it down.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling authors of Daisy Jones & the Six 

"The complex, Hollywood love story we've all been waiting for—I couldn't get enough."—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
 
Faking a love story is a... Read more »

"This droll romp is a latter-day Miss Marple.” —Washington Post

Murder leaps off the page when crime novelists begin to turn up dead in this intricate new novel by internationally best-selling author Elly Griffiths, a literary mystery perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie.

The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart... Read more »

If you enjoyed We Met in December, then you’ll love Meet Me in the Margins.

“Savannah is secretly writing a romance novel—something that the highly selective Nashville publishing house that employs her as an editor would never deign to pick up—but after a chance meeting with the editor-in-chief of her favorite romance imprint, Savannah thinks she might actually have a chance at getting published. In a cutthroat environment with looming budget cuts and a new boss fresh from New York, everywoman Savannah can’t risk a misstep at work, but she’s also on a tight deadline for revising her manuscript. She hides it in a secret room in the building’s attic, thinking it will be safe from prying eyes, but when she returns to retrieve it, an anonymous editor has left jarring, albeit sometimes reasonable, critiques in the margins. So begins a back and forth dialogue filled with clever banter and personal confessions. This adorable workplace romance includes a few love notes to librarians as well as an inside look at the book industry and is totally PG, but it’s so gosh darn sweet and satisfying that fans of spice may not even mind.”

Mary, Raven Book Store

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

“If you read the first twenty pages of this book and think, like I did "this seems exactly the same as Daisy Jones and the Six KEEP GOING. The way the stories are setup is similar, but Opal and Nev have a unique story that demands to be heard. Walton combines oral music history, intense relationship dynamics, and strong character development to result in an engaging read. I highly recommend the full-cast audiobook on Libro.fm!”

Maggie, Carmichael's Bookstore