September's Bookseller Picks

Strange Beasts of China

“I'm haunted by this lovely work of magical realism, set in a fictional city in China where "beasts" intermingle with humanity. The beasts are human-like, only differing from humans in small, but significant, ways. Through a series of episodic stories that seems disjointed at first, but eventually form a cohesive whole, Yan Ge presents us with a novelist narrator who leads the reader through the strange, beautiful city and introduces us to the various beasts who inhabit it. I'm not sure what I was expecting from Strange Beasts of China, but its ethereal prose and unfamiliar beauty made it unlike anything I've ever read before.”

Emily, Inklings Bookshop

Yearbook

“So funny. I couldn’t stop listening until I had heard all of his anecdotes. Loved it.”

Lisa, Pixie Hollow

Velvet Was the Night

“From the author of Mexican Gothic comes a classic noir with a side of romance based on the Mexican government’s suppression of dissent in the ’60s and ’70s and the involvement of the CIA and KGB.”

Rebecca Dowling, Hockessin Book Shelf

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

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows

“This was an instant favorite comfort read for me, with its slow-burn friends-to-lovers historical romance between two women in their forties—a printing press owner and a bee-keeper. Olivia Waite ingenuously crafts realistic happily-ever-afters for queer characters in her historical romances - even with marriage off the table, her characters find a way to make meaningful commitments to each other.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

“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."—NPR

An 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...

The Reading List

“A beautifully written novel about people connected by a local library and an amazing reading list. As the characters’ lives are revealed through interweaving storylines, readers will root for them, cry for them, and celebrate their victories.”

Lisa Driban, Hockessin Book Shelf

It Happened One Summer

“This story opened its broad arms and admitted me into the recharging station that I needed so badly in 2021. It was cute. It was sweet. It was heart-wrenching. It was steamy. It was everything!”

Stephanie Arrache, Waterwheel Gifts and Books

London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency

“In a time when we could all use a feel-good book, I’m so happy I got my hands on this heartwarming memoir! London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency is about the difficulties of navigating your 20s. From trying to find a way out of her lackluster job to her mother constantly nagging her about sticking to society’s life “timeline” Kate covers the beginning of adulthood in a very relatable way. She quits her job and starts her own small business, a dog-walking agency in London. Each chapter follows a specific client of hers and she writes about dogs and their quirky owners with such detail I can picture them completely in my head. I found characteristics of my own dog in each profile and was able to relate to the owners who deal with both the perks and the hard realities of having a pet. I recommend this charming memoir to everyone, but especially those who love dogs! ”

Abigail, The Snail on the Wall

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse... Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling." --Stephanie Garber,... Read more »

Part puzzle, part revenge tale, part ghost story, this ingenious novel spins half a century of Vietnamese history and folklore into “a thrilling read, acrobatic and filled with verve” (The New York Times).
 
FINALIST FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION’S FIRST NOVEL PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR:... Read more »

Ace

“This book is an eye-opening collection of personal testimonies, research, and history about asexuality, and to a lesser extent, aromanticism. Whether you are new to learning about asexuality or are asexual yourself, by the end of the book you will have a richer and multifaceted understanding of ace identity and experience.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

If you enjoyed Ring Shout, then you’ll love A Master of Djinn.

“'This is not your grandfather's Cairo.' That's for sure! Clark brings us to his alternate history Cairo where the year is 1912 and djinn roam the earth. When magic is used in a mass murder, Agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities steps in to investigate. So much fun! I've already given this as a gift to get others to read it. Highest recommendation!”

Mike, A Great Good Place for Books

Into the Forest

“Confession: I was wary at first about another Holocaust survival story. And then I read the prologue, and couldn't put the book down. From the first pages, Rebecca Frankel had me feeling like a child listening, rapt, to the stories the women in my family would recount about the past. The immediacy and intimacy of the narrative swept me away and I lost track of my physical location, only half aware that I was sitting on my couch instead of hiding in fear for my life. Frankel is gentle, but unflinching, as she relates the events experienced by the Rabinowitz family. While Into the Forest is one tale of Holocaust survival among many such tales, it stands out not only for Frankel's storytelling acumen, but also as a reminder that one kindness can echo into the future in astounding and unpredictable ways.”

Christine, BookPeople

The Witch King

“Where has this feral, hurt, angry, loving disaster of a gay trans witch been my whole life? I felt so at home within the pages of this book, and I know other queer & trans readers will feel the same way—this is the fantasy I wish I had in high school and my current favorite book to handsell.”

Miriasha, Phoenix Books

Afterwitnessing her parents' brutal murder, an undercover spy plots revenge on the system that destroyed her family in this thrilling dark fantasy.

A James Patterson Presents novel

Alka Chelrazi is on a mission:

1. Infiltrate Blackwater Academy

2. Win the Great Game

3. Burn Wizard society to the ground

As a child, Alka witnessed her parents' brutal...

Mrs. March

“Virginia Feito has effortlessly updated the comedy of manners in this darkly funny mystery. This book will haunt you until you reach the breathtaking conclusion, and you’ll remember Mrs. March for a long time to come.”

Olivia Edmunds-Diez, Boulder Book Store

Damnation Spring

“With this debut set in a Pacific Northwest logging town, Ash Davidson has immediately established herself as a true writer of the American experience, in all its potential for self-destruction and beauty.”

Josh Popkin, Odyssey Bookshop