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Staff Picks
The best poetry I've read this year is in this collection! I read it cover to cover, underlined, and drew little hearts at every line, stanza, metaphor I loved. Megan Fernandes astounded me with her control of structure and form. [Blanca]
Full disclosure, I bought this book on aesthetics alone. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find not only a really sweet romance that doesn't take forever to get to, but charming characters and a sweet story. It's not for kids because of some content towards the end but it is still wholesome and heartwarming. The perfect slice of life manga to cozy up with. [Danielle]
Omg yum! The Everyday Savory Chili Crisp is worth the price of admission alone. I was skeptical when the author suggested doubling the recipe, which already yields 4 cups, but I can admit when I'm wrong! Once you have homemade chili crisp in the fridge, you have a quick and easy shortcut to the most flavorful meals. In addition to soups, rice and noodle dishes, and other mainstays, I've also enjoyed experimenting with some of the less obvious chili crisp applications, like granola and shortbread cookies. [Adrienne]
Human Sacrifices is a wildly imaginative collection and reading it was perhaps the most haunting experience of my literary life. Consider this my top spooky season recommendation, although expect less "spooky" and more gothic, social, and existential horror. [Adrienne]
Sagan's debut novel made her famous back when it was first published in 1954. With good reason! It is beautifully written. I could not put it down, and when I finished it, I was stunned. [Blanca]
This book is a trip. It's an atmospheric, meandering noir with no particular end point and I found it compelling from the jump, almost perplexingly so. I'd say it's all vibes, but that would sell Cárdenas's wonderfully strange and spellbinding prose, as well as Davis's superb translation, far too short. I'm willing to bet it's unlike anything else you've read this year. [Adrienne]
Upon finishing this trilogy, I sobbed for 45 minutes straight. This series has everything. A morally gray protagonist, platonic soulmates, intense action, well rounded characters, and horrific war crimes! Kuang has a lovely ability to connect readers to her characters, I occasionally forgot it was in 3rd person. She also knows how to make us suffer and I love her for it. This series changed me as a person and reader; and I'll be chasing this high for the foreseeable future. [Zephyr]
I loved this chapbook-length collection of flash fiction. While I could have easily consumed it in one sitting, I instead enjoyed pulling this book out whenever I had just a few idle moments. All of the stories are inventive, and sometimes absurd, fantastic, or funny. For such spare writing, these stories hit above their weight in terms of depth and emotional impact. I also recommend checking out more from this cool small press. [Adrienne]
I have to admit that the second installment requires some patience, but once the action starts, it soars! And we get to see more of Hana's independent fighting spirit. [Blanca]
I rarely get to read books with social demi characters, let alone an emotional (bust still really funny) friends to lovers romance with a bi-awakening. Not only that, it has some of the best blind rep I have ever read in any book. Dianna Roman doesn't write nearly as much as most indie authors but when she does, she knocks it out of the park. This book made me a better person. And for that reason it's one of my top books of the year. [Danielle]