March 2022 Indie Next List
One Italian Summer: A Novel
Rebecca Serle (Atria Books)
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“One Italian Summer is pure magic. Rebecca Serle marvelously creates a literary world that feels full and alive, like I can catch a flight with Katy and experience Italy alongside her. This treasure of a book is sure to delight readers.”
— Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield's Books Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA
March 2022 Indie Next List
Inspired Recommendations from Indie Booksellers
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“Emotional and moving, The Swimmers shows the world through a wide-angle lens, slowly narrowing focus until the image disappears completely. A beautiful, poetic novel of a mother and a daughter, of culture, loss, guilt, and grief.”
— Betsy Von Kerens, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, NE
By Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
St. Martin's Press
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“This dynamic duo did not disappoint with another twisty psychological domestic thriller. I love the psychological, unconventional approach Avery has with clients. Sometimes the unconventional way can lead to dangerous results.”
— Stephanie Csaszar, Books Around the Corner, Gresham, OR
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“A wonderful sequel to It Happened One Summer. I loved watching Hannah and Fox’s love bloom out of friendship as they both overcome insecurities, both seriously and with humor. And the town of Westport! When can I move there?”
— Melissa Stusinski, Trail's End Bookstore, Winthrop, WA
By Ashley Herring Blake
Berkley
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“What a pleasure to enjoy Ashley Herring Blake's layered characters in an adult novel after all her books for kids and teens. Every story beat lands and Claire and Delilah were easy to root for. More romances set in this community, please!”
— Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
By Erica Ferencik
Gallery/Scout Press
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“I knew little about linguistics or the Arctic until I read Erica Ferencik's fascinating book. Her style is fast, impossible to put down, and the landscape is beautifully written. This is my first Ferencik book; it will not be the last.”
— Connie L. Eaton, Three Sisters Books & Gifts, Shelbyville, IN
By Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
Doubleday
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“Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s powerful observations and her tender and mysterious writing on death reminded me of Steinbeck and Fresh Water for Flowers. Still, this book was wholly unique, breathtaking, and beautiful from start to finish.”
— Andrea Jones, The Galaxy Bookshop, Hardwick, VT
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“A compelling examination of the power and importance of memories, and the question of how much of our self would change if we could control which memories we keep and which we discard.”
— Christy Peterson, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
By Sasha LaPointe
Counterpoint
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“A beautiful autobiography of a sometimes-rocky journey to heal from trauma. Her female ancestral line’s spiritual practices and wisdom help her embrace her Indigenous heritage. An emotional roller coaster well worth reading.”
— Ashley Baeckmann, Briars & Brambles Books, Windham, NY
By Adele Myers
William Morrow
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“In 1940's North Carolina, tobacco is big business. If you saw that the crop your community’s livelihood depends on also harms their health, what would you do? This is teenager Maddie Sykes’ dilemma. Her story will really make you think.”
— Heather Obenberger, Bookends On Main, Menomonie, WI
By Amy Bloom
Random House
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“Amy Bloom's memoir of falling in love with and supporting her husband through early Alzheimer's is a memorable story of dying. Far from depressing, Bloom’s warm, funny, and human voice takes us to Switzerland on a powerful trip.”
— Diane Naughton, Bards Alley, Vienna, VA
By Jennifer E. Smith
Ballantine Books
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“Greta James and her father, grieving her mother’s sudden death, become unlikely companions on an Alaskan cruise. With a rocky relationship, grief, and Greta’s onstage breakdown, can they start fresh? I was hooked from the start!”
— Kathy Morrison, Newtown Bookshop, Newtown, PA
By Sheila Heti
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
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“Defying the novel, Sheila Heti proves her wisdom and imagination. The story begins innocently and then wonderfully morphs, ruminating on loss, companionship, religion, and the physical form. This book continues to echo in my brain.”
— James Harrod, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, NC
By Lucy Foley
William Morrow
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“This novel is a slow burn with a twist ending you can't see coming! The story layers perfectly as secrets rise to the surface, and Paris serves as a beautiful and mysterious backdrop.”
— Addy Bowman, Wild Geese Bookshop, Franklin, IN
By Liz Scheier
Henry Holt and Co.
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“Liz Scheier does for memoir what her mother Judith did for dysfunction: excels. As young Liz struggles with her mother’s aggressive behavior, she sees that things are not as they should be, and life’s never simple. A beautiful tragedy.”
— Kayleen Rohrer, InkLink Books, East Troy, WI
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“Set on a small college campus, Groundskeeping follows a young man who moves home and finds himself in a covert relationship with the college’s writer-in-residence. A masterful coming-of-age debut on the messiness of writers’ lives.”
— Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
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“Set in the age of internet dating, Claudia Lin investigates the murder of one of her firm’s clients. Jane Pek weaves issues of technology, privacy, cultural identity, and a warm family story. Let's hope this is the start of a new series!”
— Jane Stiles, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA
By Rebecca Kauffman
Counterpoint
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“A beautiful portrait of a family and the stories that echoed through their lives. Spanning over 30 years, Rebecca Kauffman brings drama, pain, and joy to life in every moment. An account of the scars that bind an unforgettable family.”
— Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
By Brad Meltzer
William Morrow
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“Zig Zigarowski and Nola Brown are quirky, stubborn, daring, and above all seem real. Brad Meltzer has done an exceptional job of building a twisting, turning non-stop thriller with two of the most unique characters in modern fiction.”
— Kerry Johnson, The Family Book Shop, DeLand, FL
By Sindya Bhanoo
Catapult
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“In eight remarkable stories, Sindya Bhanoo explores the lives of disconnected families. She writes of bonds that are bent, bruised, and shattered, and uses memory to illuminate. With pain, grief, and love, the memories become our own.”
— Tony Peltier, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
By Elena Medel, Lizzie Davis, Thomas Bunstead
Algonquin Books
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“With a virtuosic translation by Lizzie Davis and Thomas Bunstead, The Wonders marks Elena Medel as a powerful new voice. Compelling from start to finish, you won’t put down this sharp novel of working-class women and political struggle.”
— Jacob Rogers, Center for Fiction Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
By Karen Joy Fowler
G.P. Putnam's Sons
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“The Booth family dominated 19th century American stages, but are known for the despicable actions of John Wilkes. Their saga, told by Karen Joy Fowler, mirrors the disintegration of their society and offers a cautionary tale for ours.”
— Bill Cusumano , Square Books, Oxford, MS
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“My heart grew two sizes bigger reading this story of queer resilience and strength. Emme Lund's debut is a beautiful coming-of-age story full of magical realism and love. If you're a hugger, then you need this book.”
— Kassie King, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
By Sarah Krasnostein
Tin House Books
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“This strange, endearing book is unconventional. The stories are told piece by piece instead of all at once, mirroring the author's experience and challenging us to think hard about what we believe. I’ll think about this one for a while.”
— Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
By Ella Baxter
Two Dollar Radio
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“Just when you think you’ve got the story, Ella Baxter dives deeper. New Animal is a dark, humorous take on grief and connection, centered on a cosmetic mortician and her eccentric family. A ‘grab more wine and keep reading’ kind of book.”
— Kathy Baum, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
Now in Paperback
Indie Next List Selections Come to Paperback
