“Time travel and 1990s teen angst and awkwardness with Emma Straub at the helm? Sign me up! This is the perfect blend of heartbreak and heartfelt laughter that we could all use a dose of right now.”
“Time travel and 1990s teen angst and awkwardness with Emma Straub at the helm? Sign me up! This is the perfect blend of heartbreak and heartfelt laughter that we could all use a dose of right now.”
— Javier Ramirez, Exile in Bookville, Chicago, IL
Indie Next ListInspired Recommendations from Indie Booksellers
“Woman of Light is a beautifully written story of unity, adversity, and the struggles of the Lopez family in the 1920s and 1930s. Perfectly connecting the past and present up to a meeting point for the family. I 100% recommend this book!”— Syrena Arevalo, Barrio Books, Tucson, AZ
“This book stole my breath away. Raw and intimate, it follows the lives of two women through heartbreak, loss, and adolescent uncertainty as they weave in and out of each other’s lives. I wanted to hug this book to my chest when I finished.”— Margaret Hansen, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA
“Leila Mottley’s brilliant debut blazes a path through a dark world, illuminating the dangers that young women of color experience daily and just how close to the precipice many find themselves — even in the daylight. Unforgettable!”— Aaron Cance, The Printed Garden, Sandy, UT
“A welcome return to a delightful character! Perrotta gives Tracy Flick the mic and allows her — and us — to reinterpret the events of Election. Deeply moving and incredibly funny, I never knew how much I needed this standalone sequel.”— Shaun Manning, Booksweet, Ann Arbor, MI
“Geraldine Brooks’ Horse is one of her very best. A story of race, love, history, slavery, and horse racing with superb writing, fascinating and complex characters, and incredible research. I can’t wait to share this with customers.”— Vicky Titcomb, Titcomb's Bookshop, East Sandwich, MA
“I love a book that gets under my skin. This is one such book, of a woman trying to hold her grief without letting it engulf her, messy and lovely in its rawness. If you want to read something to make you feel grateful to be alive, pick this book.”— Emma Nichols, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT
“Sloane Crosley threw A Christmas Carol, LCD Soundsystem’s New York, and millennial dating culture into a surrealist blender and created this heady, insightful, and darkly funny gem of a book. I can't wait to see what she writes next.”— Caroline Barbee, Friendly City Books, Columbus, MS
“A grand historical fantasy in a unique world full of complex characters, including menacing and compelling villains. Anyone who appreciates a good Victorian setting or a swashbuckling thriller will enjoy this fresh take on the genre.”— Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books and Toys, Cohasset, MA
“I’ve been a big fan of Korelitz since her early works, but The Latecomer blew me away. A clever book about a family and all its messiness. Smart, funny and poignant, I was pulled in by the novel’s perfection. Bravo, more please!”— Sue Boucher, The Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, MI
“A satisfying read about three ladies in a London bookshop in 1950. Through friendship, acuity, and boldness, they triumphantly break through the restrictive roles of womanhood to take control of their own futures and happiness!”— Annette Steinmetz, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene, ID
“This breezy, well-written novel found me at a time when I really, really needed it. It’s hard to get the tone right with kids in books, but Annabel Monaghan nailed it. I was rooting for Nora and thoroughly enjoyed my time with her!”— Chelsea Bauer, Union Avenue Books, Knoxville, TN
“Everyone knows that you keep to yourself on a train. But Iona draws people like moths to a flame; suddenly she has the interest of her entire train car. A nice pocket of reality with vivid characters that you’ll root for and want to take home.”— Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Roswell, GA
“An insightful, moving, funny, and deeply relatable novel. Alison Espach masterfully brings to life a coming-of-age story in the midst of a terrible and sudden tragedy. This novel will stick with you and make you want to share it.”— Keith Vient, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC
“Two friends raised in an orphanage together find themselves on either side of an asylum’s institution. Mary, an employee, and Lillian, a patient, secretly navigate a crushing system of abuse of people and power. Do not miss this book!”— Alice Hutchinson, Byrd's Books, Bethel, CT
“Filled with family secrets, human frailties, and changes for the better, It All Comes Down to This is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced the messiness of hurting those we care about while finding the way to our own true self.”— Betsy Von Kerens, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, NE
“The Hunger Games meets Something Wicked This Way Comes meets Occupy Wall Street. A scathing allegory of the senselessly dangerous world we live in that will consume you, leave you in a daze and constantly checking over your shoulder.”— Charlotte Martin, Mystery to Me, Madison, WI
“Katie Runde’s debut novel played my heartstrings like a harpsichord. I was yanked from my life to this beachside town and this kindhearted family’s experiences with love, loss, and resilience! I am anxiously awaiting her next release.”— Katy Herbold, Sidekick Coffee & Books, University Heights, IA
“Sleepwalk is an addictive and wholly original novel. Despite how deeply, deeply weird the near-future America of Sleepwalk is, this is a hopeful and timeless story of lost people seeking the connection and healing that we all need!”— Lane Jacobson, Paulina Springs Books, Sisters, OR
“Metropolis is a riveting read by a remarkable storyteller. Shapiro’s cast of characters will keep you guessing. A tribute to old Boston and how people live — in wealth or poverty — and remain human and connected to one another. Well done!”— Annie Philbrick, Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT
“An edge-of-your-seat trip with Ariel Pryce, who wakes up one morning in their Lisbon hotel room to find that her husband John has disappeared. Your ideas on what is happening and who is involved will fly right out the window! Intriguing!”— Nona Camuel, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
“Spectacular! Perrin has written a masterpiece of friendship, love, loss and life, weaving the lives of three friends — Adrien, Etienne, and Nina — into a magnificent novel. There are no words to really describe; it’s a must read! Love it!”— Stephanie Crowe, Page and Palette, Fairhope, AL
“A heartfelt tale of a shy 64-year-old English postman on the verge of retirement and on the verge of coming out. Albert’s obstacles are significant, which make his efforts to surmount them, and to find new friends, all the more joyous.”— Mike Hare, Northshire Saratoga, Saratoga Springs, NY
“This stunning debut follows a young man who, possessed by his grandfather’s ghost, attempts to cross the Demilitarized Zone in North Korea. A remarkable — and at turns hilarious — story of family, grief, and intergenerational trauma.”— Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN
“Rainbow Rainbow is queer, bold, and beautiful. Conklin’s characters and memorable stories offer unique perspective on modern relationships with pitch-perfect tone. This will be one of the best collections by the end of the year.”— Adam Vitcavage, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
