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Staff Picks

I could not put this light novel down once I started it. I had to know how the protagonists played out their roles--and now I can't wait until the sequel comes out! I love a good marriage contract trope with strong characters. [Blanca]

This book is extraordinary. One I'll undoubtedly think about and revisit for years to come. Written as a series of notes - sometimes autobiographical, always profound - Sharpe explores how Black life is experienced through art, literature, language, physical spaces, family, and more. As a whole, it's a deeply personal and radical sociological text. [Adrienne]

I began each story in this debut collection with a question: where will it take me? Before I knew it, the destination became irrelevant as the journey was engrossing. The straightforward delivery accentuated the ordinary whilst the magical realism transpired and left me pondering. [Blanca]

Dear reader, I read this book a year ago and I have NOT STOPPED thinking about it since—it's that remarkable. I've eagerly, and rather impatiently, awaited its US release, so I can share and talk about it with all of you. The ambiguous title 'Happy Stories, Mostly' perfectly distills the mix of melancholy, beauty, loneliness, and almost-joy found within. [Adrienne]

I stumbled upon this novel, and I am glad I picked it up. It is an underrated, wonderful piece of postmodernist fiction-challenging, demanding, and rewarding. I love being taught new words. I love it when authors invent new ones. Oreo and her family never cease to entertain! Hard to believe this book was published in 1974. [Blanca]

Wow, I was taken aback by the brilliance of this book. I love when the surreal and absurd helps us make sense of the very real social problems around us. Isabel Waidner has accomplished that in spades. [Adrienne]

A book of positive affirmations and adorable illustrations that leave me feeling like I've just taken a nap in a field full of flowers under a warm sun. Maybe you need this book or maybe someone else in your life does. I know I'll be giving it to lots of friends. [Adrienne]

My favorite horror title that I've read in a while. It's best experienced going in as blind as possible. But the essentials are this: This book takes you on a truly unique experience; the structure and formatting are like nothing I've ever seen. It's a master class in obsessive details that are embodied by footnotes that tell two other stories within them. It reads like a journal, a documentary, and a dissertation. It genuinely made me uncomfortably fascinated. (Zephyr)

Sometimes you read a book that further opens your mind to the possibilities of what literature can look and feel like. 'Tauhou' contains multitudes, in its form (poetry, memoir, short stories) and its impact. In fact, I don't know that I've ever read an alternate history more compelling. Definitely looking forward to reading more from this talented young author. [Adrienne]

I love books about books, and this one was super interesting! Who knew there was so much math in literature? Certainly, not I. I learned so much, and the writer did a wonderful job explaining math. No math expertise required. Jump in and be ready to add books to your reading list! [Blanca]