Ann Patchett's Blog, page 5

It’s Always Everything All at Once: An Interview with Chelsea Bieker

“The world is not made for mothers. Yet mothers made the world.” From the very first words of Chelsea Bieker’s Madwoman, I was hooked. I went into this book expecting a story much like so many I have read in the past: a story of a woman at the end of her rope, unfulfilled in her marriage and in motherhood and wondering what to do next. What Madwoman gave me was that and so much more. This is the story of Clove, a woman running from a traumatic past and doing all she can to bury her demons. Chelsea Bieker has written a novel filled with suspense and serious heart, and I was thrilled to be able to pick her brain about it.

— Maddie Grimes, Parnassus bookseller

Chelea Bieker | Photo by Wondra

Maddie Grimes: Hi Chelsea! First of all, I absolutely loved this book. Madwoman is one of those books I’m glad I went into knowing less, because it has so many rich layers that revealed themselves to me as I read on. One of my absolute favorite parts of this story is Clove’s obsession with her local wellness grocery store. Can you tell me about how this aspect of her character came to be? Is this something you relate to yourself?

Chelsea Bieker: I’m so glad this is one of your favorite aspects of the book! It’s one of mine too and was so fun to write. Talk about write what you know… The parts about the grocery store being Clove’s safe place and the wellness products she’s obsessed with are some of the closest drawn aspects of Clove to my lived experience. I wanted to show the ways she grasps for control with these external things, in a way that is societally approved—like, she’s not robbing a bank or getting drunk—she’s just buying adaptogen powders and liposomal forms of vitamin C. There’s something so appealing to her about being able to optimize your life, and Clove has been to hell and back and now she wants to not just live, but to thrive. Her first job after escaping her childhood is at this little grocery store in San Francisco. It’s really formative for her because it’s the first adult experience she has apart from her parents. It’s there she meets “the Glowing Woman” who seems like the pinnacle of what she wants to be. Luxury grocery and wellness represents a kind of stability and safety and removal from her childhood. But what she learns over the course of the book is that the harder thing is the deeper emotional work that can’t be found on a shelf. Still, I want to really stand by the fact that her impulse for wellness isn’t bad per se…(though for her it tips into some unhealthy patterns and she’s in a ton of debt over it) but it’s also a sort of claim she’s making, too, about self-worth. At the beginning of the book her mother pines after a Crystal Geyser bottled water and as a kid she doesn’t get it. But later she learns it’s about dignity. It’s about even in the worst of circumstances, still finding yourself worthy of something nice or high quality. She feels a little thrill every time she drinks a delicious organic smoothie. In a way, she’s re-mothering herself. I’m interested in all these layered motivations behind what we buy and what we hope our purchases will offer us beyond the practical. Some days in early motherhood, I really hoped the right bone broth would save me. There’s some inherent comedy in that hope, and it’s also heartbreaking too.

MG: Underneath everything, Clove is a person who comes from intense and brutal trauma, and yet she was for me one of the most relatable women I’ve read in a long time. How important was it to you to incorporate this traumatic childhood into your character’s life while also maintaining her as someone who all women can relate to?

CB: Thank you! It was so important to me that she comes across as a whole human and not just a victim. We see her fall in love for the first time, we see her explore female friendship, we see her open popsicles for her kids and go to Music Together class. We all have emotional depths we must contend with on a daily basis, and yet we all still have to go grocery shopping. As mothers you feel this distinctly because when you are around children all day, that doesn’t prohibit you from having desire, longing, ruminations, and a very rich interior life against the backdrop of a playground. It’s always everything all at once. So yes, Clove is coming from this pretty horrific childhood, and she’s also living her life. Her biggest fantasy is for normalcy which she does achieve in many ways. But I also wanted to show that you can be doing the most normal things possible, and you can present a certain way outwardly, meanwhile, yeah, there’s a host of internal pain and drama you’re contending with at the same time. I hope I also showed this with the scenes with her and her mother—you know, they live in poverty and in a violent and controlling situation, but they still sneak to the Goodwill to try on vintage designer dresses. I think it’s in those ways you maintain your humanness. My mom never lived a day without her lipstick. I kid you not, getting dropped off at a detox facility, she’s asking if she can take her lipstick in. You know, it’s always both things.

MG: In most novels with tortured mothers as main characters, the husband — whether fully with intention or through mere apathy and ignorance — serves as the stand-in villain of the book. However this is very much not the case in Clove’s story. Were you intentional about avoiding this trope in Madwoman? How do you see Clove’s husband as he fits into her story?

CB: It’s funny because in my past work I’m not sure I ever really wrote the character of a “good guy.” But in this book we have two pretty decent guys—her first love, and her husband. They provide a balance to the story, because her father is more of a villain, but I wanted to show her navigate romantic relationships where the conflicts are more at the micro-level. Writing about violence directly can be boring. Same with addiction. It’s the effects surrounding these things that is interesting, but the acts themselves are predictable and stagnant. There’s no denying her father’s violence is awful, but I like the way with her other relationships with men it’s less obvious who is doing what wrong. It’s slippery. I wanted to show how trauma plays out years removed within the confines of a marriage where one person has suffered great trauma and loss and the other hasn’t. The loneliness of the other person not really getting it, even though they try. She doesn’t believe her husband will understand what she’s been through because he’s been so nurtured his whole life. And she’s right. He will never truly, truly understand it, or what it’s like to be a woman in this world. He can try, but there’s no way to know truly unless you’ve been there. But the attempt to understand is necessary. My energy healer in Portland said something wise in terms of what it will take to heal patriarchal wounds. I hope I don’t butcher her words, but it was something along the lines that men will have to repent and account for and apologize repetitively. It’s not just one time. It’s a constant checking in, an active desire to make change to heal patriarchal imbalance. The book explores Clove having to figure out how to give her husband a chance to attempt this, and the first step is a more honest intimacy between them. For him to really know her. I wanted his capacity to be surprising, and also for their relationship to provide some comic relief to the story. I think they have a rather dry, funny rapport together.

MG: When you are writing a character like Clove who comes from a childhood rooted in violence and neglect, how do you toe the line of wanting to give your character a happy ending while also remaining realistic for readers?

CB: Such a great question! I think a lot about writing into my own personal fantasy. Fiction can offer us what we didn’t receive in real life. Whether that’s a conversation we’ve longed to have, or redemption where before there was none, or a sense of karmic justice—I like to think of my endings as doors opening rather than closing. I want there to be a sense of continuation and growth versus a conclusion. I’m a sap for miracles and for unlikely solutions and for saves at the final moment, and I like to play with that, knowing that in a story like this, there is no fairytale ending to be had, but there can be growth and turns of fate. While to me, the ending of Madwoman is ultimately hopeful, it still contains all the complication and brutality of everything that came before. But we get the sense of forward motion. Of connection versus separation.

MG: I am so excited to see this book come out and for more readers to get their hands on it. Once it is published, who do you hope sees themselves in Clove’s story and what do you hope readers take away?

CB: I hope mothers and caretakers see themselves in this — this is very much a book that sees and honors them — and I hope that people might understand domestic violence and the complexities of PTSD more after reading. Our mainstream understanding of DV needs to deepen and shift. I still see problematic portrayals all the time, and I want there to be a heightened conversation about it that reaches the masses. It touches so many lives. Other than that, I think there’s a little Clove in all of us. Doing the work to break the cycle of generational trauma is no easy task and I see so many of my friends doing this work. I wanted to write a book that was funny and entertaining and a great page turning story but also something that will invite readers to think deeply about their lives. I love fiction that challenges us to think beyond the scope of good and evil into more surprising territory. I wrote this with a lot of love and a lot of heart. I hope people read it together and have connective conversations out of it. That would be my dream.

MG: Finally, we always end with this question: what is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

CB: Bookstores are everything. They are the heart of every community. They are my favorite place (besides the grocery store, ha!) to be because I feel instantly energetically understood in them. The shelf talkers, the booksellers, the way everything feels so personal. Inside is proof that people think in nuanced, complex ways, that people are interested in emotional journeys and art and beauty. It’s proof of goodness. I hope to visit Parnassus soon! Thank you so much for this.

Madwoman is on our shelves now! Get your copy today.

Goths, Godzillas, and Ghosts: 23 Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

It’s finally starting to feel like fall! Time to cuddle up with a book that represents the autumn vibe of your choice. Need something spooky? We’ve got you. How about warm and cozy stories? We can help. Dive into a great new book this month!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann What Can a Mess Make?

By Bee Johnson

A mess can make a picnic, a masterpiece, and lots of fun in this charming book about two sisters who have a fun day of creativity together.

Recommended by Rachel Finnegan Fox

By Katie Gilstrap, Lori Nichols (Illustrator)

My favorite picture book of the year! Finnegan Fox isn’t like his siblings, but that’s okay. Finnegan gains courage in his own time! The scent of raspberries draws him out on a grand adventure.

Recommended by Ashby Anonymoose

By Shawna J. C. Tenney

Shy? Ana Moose likes to hide which isn’t easy for a moose! Is she going to be courageous, overcome her shyness, and make friends with Peter, a beaver building a fort — a great place to hide?

Recommended by Chelsea The Strangest Fish

By Katherine Arden, Zahra Marwan (Illustrator)

There’s something very strange about the fish Daisy wins at the fair, but she is determined to take the best care of him. This is a tender story whose fantastical whimsy is reflected in the incredible illustrations. A perfect autumnal read!

Recommended by Jenness Goth Moth (Band of Bugs)

By Kai Lüftner, Wiebke Rauers (Illustrator), Tim Mohr (Translated by)

Goth Moth leads a quiet life – just not in his own head. He wants to rock! When his favorite band comes to town, he gets the chance to be the rock star he was meant to be.

Recommended by Ashby Attack of the Scones: Volume 6 (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast)

By Josh Funk, Brendan Kearney (Illustrator)

Too many food puns? Never! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast make me giggle. Combine a Star Wars pun and a UFD, Unidentified Flying Dessert, and what do you get? More giggles!

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann The Ghost Rules

By Adam Rosenbaum

Elwood McGee knows ghosts like coffee and can be nervous when spotted in the wild. He knows because he can see them, and there is one ghost he really wants to see one last time. A charming middle grade debut.

Recommended by Ashby The Sherlock Society

By James Ponti

Read the City Spies series? The first in a new series is an equally action-packed mystery. Four kids start a detective agency with a retired reporter grandfather. Cadillac convertible? Storage unit of cold cases? Buried treasure? Mobster Al Capone? Island in the Everglades? Crooked corporation? See how it turns out…

Recommended by Jake Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp

By Rosie Knight, Oliver Ono (Illustrator)

Zelda, an aspiring artist, finds herself stuck at sports camp for the summer and spends her days hiding away to draw. But it is in this hiding spot that she discovers a portal which leads to a weird and wacky world of creatures like bugs, monsters, and even Mini Godzilla! As she spends time in this strange dimension, she starts to suspect that her camp isn’t what it seems and she needs Kaiju help to save the day.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Witching Wind

By Natalie Lloyd

Two friends need help finding someone dear to each of them who is lost. When they find out about the Witching Wind, they’re sure it’s responsible. They set out on an impossible mission that’s only possible with friends. Natalie Lloyd’s latest novel is delightful and magical!

Recommended by Jenness Scareground

By Angela Kecojevic

Nancy is 12 and happy to explore the rooftops with her best friend, but she seeks more – especially once a creepy fairground appears in her London neighborhood. How is she connected to this dark and mysterious fair? Maybe she’ll finally learn about her birth parents, and the secret behind her birthmark? All of this and so much more awaits her!

Recommended by Jordan P.S. Longer Letter Later

By Paula Danziger, Ann M. Martin

It is the 1997-1998 school year and best friends Elizabeth and Tara*Starr keep in touch via snail mail after Tara*Starr’s family moves across the country. This is an epistolary novel, which means it is told entirely in letters!

Recommended by RJ It Happened to Anna

By Tehlor Kay Mejia

This horror novel for young readers pulls no punches in its exploration of grief and isolation. Sadie is haunted by a ghost that won’t let her make friends— a ghost willing to kill to ensure she doesn’t. When she finally meets a girl immune to the ghost’s powers, it seems like her loneliness is over. But when Sadie’s new friend becomes more dangerous than her ghost, who can she actually trust?

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Raegyn The Maid and the Crocodile: A Novel in the World of Raybearer

By Jordan Ifueko

Howl’s Moving Castle meets Beauty and the Beast? Ask, and you shall receive. Sade needs a job, preferably as a maid, but that changes when she accidentally binds herself to the Crocodile God: a beast who feasts on the flesh of pretty girls—or so the rumors say. Now, she must break his curse and appease her new employer with her curse-eating power, or else it’s kill or be killed. BEWARE THE CROCODILE GOD!

Recommended by Aly The Champions (The Cheerleaders)

By Kara Thomas

A companion book to Thomas’ The Cheerleaders that entirely stands on its own. This thrilling murder-mystery revolving around a high school football team kept me guessing until the very satisfying end.

Recommended by Rae Ann Jupiter Rising

By Gary D. Schmidt

Things aren’t going according to plan for Jack, on the track team, or at home with his sister’s adoption. As Jack runs toward his destiny on the field and at home, life is full of unexpected surprises in this companion novel to Orbiting Jupiter.

Recommended by RJ Prince of the Palisades

By Julian Winters

Prince of the Palisades is the latest from romcom superstar Julian Winters. When a teen prince is exiled to the USA after some bad press, he’s forced to play nice if he ever wants to fix his reputation and return home. However, a certain charming aspiring filmmaker might be distracting him from his goals. A sweet and swoony modern fairytale.

Recommended by Raegyn Immortal Dark

By Tigest Girma

Twilight had it wrong. Vampires don’t sparkle. Kidan says they lure you with their dark gaze and plump lips until they can taste you. To her, they’re pure evil, and all evil must be purged. When a vampire takes her sister, Kidan vows to do anything to get her back, even if she must become the monster she hates. With enemies-to-lovers, secret societies, and African lore, Immortal Dark is a debut you won’t forget.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Tara One True Loves

By Elise Bryant

If you have been waiting years to find another book that makes you feel like Anna and the French Kiss, look no further. Lenore is a recent high school graduate about to embark on a Mediterranean cruise with her family for the summer. One True Loves makes references throughout to some classic YA romances and takes the reader on a journey across Greece and Italy.

Recommended by Naomi The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)

By Maggie Stiefvater

The daughter of a powerful psychic, Blue Sargent is used to weird. But when she meets the eccentric yet charming Richard Gansey III and his friends, a group of teenage boys on a quest to find the tomb of a dead Welsh king, her life will change forever whether she likes it or not. I couldn’t put it down!!!

Recommended by Elizabeth Me (Moth)

By Amber McBride

Following a tragic accident, Moth realizes that she is being led far away from the groundedness of home and family that she has always known. Along the way, a young boy Sani crosses her path and at once they realize that the things they’re both searching for perhaps aren’t so different. This beautiful, haunting YA novel-in-verse explores identity, first love, and mental health in surprising and profound ways.

Recommended by Rae Ann Fever 1793

By Laurie Halse Anderson

A yellow fever epidemic rages through the streets of Philadelphia. Mattie’s mother insists she flee the city with her grandfather, but soon they are abandoned on the side of a road. Mattie’s courage and perseverance see her through unexpected dilemmas in this vivid historical novel.

Recommended by Tara When I’m Feeling Angry: 15th Anniversary Edition (The Feelings Series)

By Trace Moroney

The Feelings series by Trace Moroney is some of the best literature for kids that addresses social emotional learning. As a former teacher and a mom I love to use this series to help kiddos through big feelings. I’d recommend the entire collection, but in particular When I’m Feeling Angry does such a good job of explaining anger and how to deal with it constructively.

Sprout Book Club: September Selection The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts

By Ann Patchett, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)

The September 2024 Sprout Book Club selection is The Verts by Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss Glasser. The Vert family is celebrating a special occasion, Ivan’s birthday! Estie wants her brother to have a great party with lots of guests from their building. The siblings come together to make the party just right in their own way.

Early praise for the book:

“An affirming read that values introverts and extroverts alike, uplifting each for their unique qualities.” –Kirkus

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: September Selection The Sherlock Society

By James Ponti

The September 2024 Spark Book Club pick is The Sherlock Society by James Ponti. Four kids and one grandfather tackle a decades-old mystery. When Alex and Zoe Sherlock decide to start a detective agency as their summer job, the fun soon turns dangerous. They use modern-day technology and old-school brains to solve a crime in this fun mystery.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“An environmental mystery featuring lots of clever detecting, a bit of danger, and real felonies to investigate.” – Kirkus

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: September Selection With Love, Echo Park

By 

The September 2024 ParnassusNext selection is With Love, Echo Park by Laura Taylor Namey. 

Clary works in her family’s flower shop and plans to do everything she can to preserve the Cuban American business community in her neighborhood. The son of the neighboring bicycle shop owners is more interested in moving on when he graduates. A message from an unexpected visitor draws them closer, making them reevaluate their plans in this delightful romance.

Early praise for the novel:

“This earnest coming-of-age story is a tribute to family, culture, and resilience.” – Kirkus

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

An Autumnal Audit: 31 Reads for September

You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but the staff of Parnassus is here to suggest something new: an autumnal audit! Take a look at your bookshelves. What’s missing? Are you lacking in profound memoirs? Hurting for some sharp contemporary literary fiction? In need of a gripping thriller? Let our booksellers fill in the gaps on your shelves. Consider picking up a book you might not normally gravitate towards, and see where it takes you!

FICTIONRecommended by Elyse Colored Television: A Novel

By Danzy Senna

A dark comedy about making it as an artist, racial identity, Hollywood, selling out, family – all wrapped together in a brilliant, chaotic, and very compelling package.

Recommended by Lindsay Peggy: A Novel

By Rebecca Godfrey, Leslie Jamison

Peggy Guggenheim hive, rise up! All three of us! Before she became one of the most prolific art collectors of the twentieth century, Peggy was a key figure in the Bohemian world of interwar Europe–Peggy offers the full scope of her formative years. My fellow nerds will love the cameos from artists and writers, but this sumptuous novel is really for anyone who wants a story about a complicated, trailblazing woman.

Recommended by Katie The Palace of Eros: A Novel

By Caro De Robertis

A sensual and beautiful queer retelling of Eros and Psyche. I fell in love with De Robertis’s writing with Cantoras and have been eagerly anticipating what they would do next. The Palace of Eros is a worthy addition to the world of Greek mythology and reimagining. I am more than a little obsessed.

Recommended by Ashby The Empress of Cooke County

By Elizabeth Bass Parman

1960s. Small town Tennessee. Posey is never satisfied. She sees herself as the empress. 20 years have passed since getting pregnant after a fling with a married doctor. He wants nothing to do with her so she marries Vern. Determined to win the doctor, Posey hosts the high school reunion in her new mansion. Her daughter, Callie Jane, has to figure out how to escape Posey. Vern too. Will Posey get what she deserves?

Recommended by Rae Ann The Housekeeper’s Secret: A Novel

By Iona Grey

This novel of navigating secrets takes the reader from a secluded house in Northern England to the trenches of WWI. A housekeeper wonders who she can trust. A man with a hidden past seeks answers. This is a story of letting go, moving on, and recreating oneself wrapped in a sweeping romance.

Recommended by Maddie Madwoman

By Chelsea Bieker

What does it really mean to have the perfect life—the perfect marriage, the perfect family—if even the people who are closest to you don’t know the truth about your past? In Madwoman, Clove is trying the best she can to forget her childhood of abuse, but when her mother resurfaces after over a decade, she must come to terms with the fact that she can’t run from the past forever.

Recommended by Elyse There Are Rivers in the Sky: A Novel

By Elif Shafak

A tale so beautifully written, across centuries, with three main characters, that is finely threaded together by one single drop of water.

Recommended by Tara Haunted Ever After

By Jen DeLuca

If you’ve ever found yourself longing for a spooky beach read, this is it! Set in a quiet beach town, Haunted Ever After brings all of the deliciously warm ambiance that comes from a seaside setting while also balancing the paranormal element of meddling ghosts.

Recommended by A.J. Hera: A Novel

By Jennifer Saint

Zeus sucks. This book is fabulous. What else is there to say, really?

Recommended by Cheryl The Life Impossible: A Novel

By Matt Haig

Responding to a student who feels everything is impossible after losing his mother, a retired math teacher tells him her story. She moved to Ibiza after inheriting a house from a little-remembered colleague. There she was transformed by a phosphorescent source in the sea.

Recommended by Sissy For Eva

By Jen Davis

For those of us who love a clever twist on Pride and Prejudice, Davis has given us a wild love story set in the hair-band era. It has a little bit of Nashville, a lot of LA, and a whole lot of smoking indoors. I adored all the characters, and it really transported me. I was young and carefree again – and had bangs.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Naturalist’s Daughter

By Tea Cooper

Two women in Australia, a century apart, are connected by a scientific sketchbook. When a librarian arrives at a country house to collect the donation and finds the donor deceased, the mystery of the sketchbook and its original owner begins to unravel. This is an immersive historical novel with beautiful descriptions of the countryside and strong characters.

Recommended by Marcia Blue Sisters: A Novel

By Coco Mellors

Three siblings come together a year after their sister died from fentanyl to sift through her belongings before their childhood apartment is put up for sale. This novel explores family dynamics, love, and the way loss is handled differently by each member of the family.

Recommended by Patsy Hum: A Novel

By Helen Phillips

When a novel is set in the near future, is it still called “dystopian”? How much are we willing to allow AI into our lives in the name of simplicity, safety, and health, and what do we exchange in return? A device-free weekend in unspoiled nature turns into an adventure, away from the robot “hums”, the “woom” retreats, and “bunnies” on children’s’ wrists. Fans of 1984 and The Circle will love Helen Phillips’ latest.

Recommended by Ashby Haunted to Death (A Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery #3)

By Frank Anthony Polito

Engrossing mystery with fun characters and a witty 1st person narrator. JP and Peter are partners in life and on a renovation reality TV show. In the third season and third in this series, they take on a supposedly haunted house acquired by an indie rockstar. Is the house haunted by the beauty queen who fell to her death? Or was she pushed? Or is it an elaborate scheme to make everyone think the house is haunted?

Recommended by Jordan Clickbait: A Novel

By Holly Baxter

If you are looking for the next darkly comedic novel about a train wreck of a main character with an unhinged vibe, give this one a shot. After messing with journalistic ethics and being disgraced in a previous reporting job, a newly- divorced Natasha gets demoted to write excruciatingly stupid clickbait articles, while developing an obsession with her new roommate and former fling.

Recommended by Rae Ann In a League of Her Own: A Novel

By Kaia Alderson

“Women have no business in baseball.” Effa Manley, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, disagreed. This novel tells the fascinating story of her life as a team owner, activist, and socialite.

Recommended by Lauren I’ll Have What He’s Having

By Adib Khorram

Farzan was ready to give up on love, until he went out to a restaurant and started getting wined and dined by the cute sommelier, David. Little did he know, David thought Farzan was a well-renowned food critic. From that first “date,” I fell in love with David and Farzan. Both wanting love, but not wanting to get hurt and both dealing with their changing career paths. I loved every part of this book!

Recommended by Mac We Burn Daylight: A Novel

By Bret Anthony Johnston

Follow two young people discovering life and love in the context of a cryptic religious group gathering in Waco, Texas. This insightful fictionalization of the real-life Branch Davidians consists of multiple perspectives, including a podcaster. Johnston allows plenty of space for readers to empathize with this unique cast of characters. For fans of Geraldine Brooks, Stephen King, and true-crime podcasts.

Recommended by Ashby ‘Til Heist Do Us Part

By Sara Desai

Simi’s bestie Chloe comes over with bleach when Simi calls thinking she killed someone. That’s the first chapter in the follow-up action-packed-rom-com-thriller. Premise? Simi has to return the diamond necklace. Problem? She doesn’t have it. The men? Mr. X wants it back. Jack helped steal it but is Simi’s ex. Lastly, Detective Garcia who is extremely good-looking but will arrest her if he catches her.

NONFICTION & POETRYRecommended by Aly Men Have Called Her Crazy: A Memoir

By Anna Marie Tendler

If you’re looking to find a scathing tell-all about her celebrity ex, you won’t find it here. Instead you will find an incredibly vulnerable, funny, heart wrenching look at what it is like to be a person. This book made me feel not so alone.

Recommended by Maddie Life and Death of the American Worker: The Immigrants Taking on America’s Largest Meatpacking Company

By Alice Driver

This is an entirely brutal, entirely necessary look into the heartbreaking reality of the thousands of workers at Tyson Foods. Driver does a fantastic job reporting on the countless people who are forced to work every day in inhumane conditions, including so many who died of COVID being forced to work unsafely during the height of the pandemic. This book is so important, and I hope it gets the readership it deserves.

Recommended by Jennifer The Art of Gothic Living: Dark Decor for the Modern Macabre

By Paul Gambino

Perfect for anyone who wants their living room to look like a vampire den.

Recommended by Elizabeth All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me

By Patrick Bringley

Patrick Bringley has been a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for over a decade. He has watched and protected and pondered art at all times of the day, with all types of people, and in all seasons of life. His memoir not only shares the daily rhythms of life in such a job, but also explores the inexplicable ability of art to heal the soul. (If you were a Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler kid, you will really love this one!)

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Sydney The Wren, the Wren: A Novel

By Anne Enright

A father abandons his sick wife and two children. This is the story of that sick wife and those two children. Anne Enright has stunning prose, and beautifully explores the lasting impacts of familial trauma through generations. This novel made me want to hug my mom.

Recommended by Kathy Peyton Place

By Grace Metalious

This book became a classic almost as soon as it was published in 1956. Lots of forbidden topics like premarital sex, incest, and abortion drive the story in this small town in Maine. I hid this from my mother and the nuns when I was in middle school! A story of mores and morals, and lots of sex. Amazing how much of it still rings true – treat yourself to see what the fuss was all about and why it was banned almost everywhere.

Recommended by Ashby The Lady Vanishes

By Ethel Lina White

Hitchcock turned White’s novel into a thrilling film. Suspense and intrigue set on a train in the 1930s. Socialite Iris Carr meets Miss Froy, then Miss Froy disappears. No one will admit to having seen her; anyone starting to believe Iris is given evidence she is delusional. Adamant about Miss Froy’s existence, Iris is determined to find her. This book reminds us that White was held up like Sayers and Christie.

Recommended by Jake Lonesome Dove: A Novel

By Larry McMurtry

Encompassing love and loss, tragedy and farce, Lonesome Dove is as close as the novel gets to achieving complete perfection. And don’t be intimidated by its length, as very few books utilize their size so efficiently and effectively. Following an epic cross-country cattle drive and the plethora of fully-formed characters that see it through, this is the kind of novel that you never forget.

Recommended by Lauren Done and Dusted: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel

By Lyla Sage

If you love Yellowstone and romance then this is the book for you! Emmy, a champion barrel racer, comes back home to her family’s ranch after a horrible injury. Things begin to get hot and heavy when she starts falling for her brother’s best friend, Luke. I could not put this book down!

Recommended by Katie Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger: A Memoir

By Lisa Donovan

I picked up this memoir in anticipation of Donovan’s upcoming talk with renowned baker, Anne Byrn and was immediately taken with Donovan’s story and her incredible culinary journey. It felt like a long conversation, on the porch, in the summer with your incredibly cool older sister who has baked you a ton of snacks and is providing you the sagest of wisdom.

Recommended by Elizabeth The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

By Mark Haddon

I will never not love Christopher John Francis Boone’s voice. He is a boy who loves numbers and certainty and animals, yet cannot grasp human emotion. Here is a masterful meditation on love and family, wrapped surprisingly in a story about the mysterious death of a neighbor’s dog. I first read this book in one day and physically held it to my heart after the final page.

First Editions Club: September Selection Colored Television: A Novel

By Danzy Senna

You know what I love about Jane Austen? Her novels work as comedy, as literature, as romance. You can read Emma on the beach or you can write your dissertation on it. Either way, the book holds up, because more than anything, it shrewdly observes the intricate dance of human nature—who we are and what we desire. And, if that weren’t enough, the writing is divine.

If I were looking for a worthy predecessor to Jane Austen, my first stop would be Danzy Senna. I read Colored Television with so much pleasure. The book is fun! I laughed out loud at Jane’s quest to fulfill her goals, and cringed at her miscalculations. Even as she was doing the wrong thing, I continued to root for her, in much the way I rooted for Austen’s Emma. But in the months that passed after I finished Colored Television, I kept thinking about it. How had Senna made these people so indelible? How had they taken up permanent residence in my head? It’s because Jane’s desire to live the life she had envisioned for herself is a universal condition. It’s because the pacing and structure are as tight as the very best piece of television, while also reaching the heights of the very best piece of literature.

Enjoy.

Ann

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Love, Parnassus: September Selection I’ll Have What He’s Having

By Adib Khorram

Think about the last really good meal you had or a really exceptional glass of wine. What feeling does it conjure up? For me its warm, full and a bit swoony. Do you know what I mean? I’ll Have What He’s Having, the adult debut from author Adib Khorram will make you feel similarly. It’s a smart, tender, vivacious romantic comedy about mistaken identities, the line between love and sex, and the way one night—and one person—can change your life forever. Farzan and David are one of my favorite fictional couples and I know you will love them too.

“Gorgeously sensual and gorgeously real, Adib Khorram writes the perfect romance: one that you want to gulp down all at once…and also savor for as long as you can. An absolutely unmissable read for anyone who loves spicy stories, happily ever afters, and swoons that will make your toes curl with delight. Five stars!” —Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone, bestselling co-authors of A Merry Little Meet Cute

“Clever, sexy, and charming, I’ll Have What He’s Having is the refreshingly relatable queer romance of my dreams! Khorram’s balance of uncorked humor and delicious spiciness is the perfect pairing. Be prepared to fall hard for this one.”—Julian Winters, bestselling author of Right Where I Left You

The Love, Parnassus box is a monthly subscription box for romance readers curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Each month you will receive a first edition book (which is sometimes signed), a letter from the author, a custom sticker, and a bookmark to track your reading. The Love, Parnassus selection will focus on debut and new-to-you romance authors. Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite romance reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Reanimating History: An Interview with Jen Fawkes

In Daughters of Chaos, author Jen Fawkes expertly weaves history and mythology to create an entirely unique take on story-telling. This book takes the structures of the patriarchy and flips them into chaos, honoring the innately divine feminine ways that have so long been repressed. Reading this book was like discovering a long lost hope inside of my chest, and even after I finished the last page, the flames grew higher. I was thrilled to be able to ask Jen a few questions about Daughters of Chaos! — Rachel Randolph, Parnassus bookseller

Jen Fawkes

Rachel Randolph: Daughters of Chaos is a masterful blend of historical inspirations, from Greek myth to Civil War-era Nashville. Can you talk about your research process? What was it like to stitch together pieces of story and history?

Jen Fawkes: Before writing Daughters of Chaos, what I knew of the Civil War came from novels like The Red Badge of Courage, documentaries like Ken Burns’ The Civil War, films like Gone with the Wind and Glory, television shows like North and South, and American history courses, so in order to breathe life into Daughters of Chaos, I had to do a lot of research.

In the beginning, I focused on Civil War history, and the histories of Tennessee and Nashville. I sourced scholarly articles as well as maps and photographs of Civil War-era Tennessee from JSTOR and EBSCO. To get a feel for the lingo and attitudes of the 1860s, I used Chronicling America, a Library of Congress website that holds digitized images of historic newspapers from every US state (1756-1963). In addition, I visited Nashville, exploring the riverfront area where the red-light district (Smokey Row) was once located, the Tennessee State Capitol, and Fort Negley, where a pivotal scene in the novel takes place.

Later, when I decided to draw a parallel between the American Civil War and the Peloponnesian Wars, I pulled out my undergrad copy of Thucydides, reread plays by Aristophanes, and consulted analyses of Old Comedy. I studied maps of ancient Greece and 16th century Venice, Venetian history in toto, and the roles of courtesans and literary salons, specifically. I researched the city of Ephesus—home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world—where I decided to set the Apocrypha, and the evolution of mother goddess cults throughout history. In addition to scholarly articles and nonfiction books like Margaret Rosenthal’s The Honest Courtesan and Stephanie McCurry’s Women’s War: Fighting and Surviving the American Civil War, I consulted websites like National Geographic, PBS, and Britannica.

My first favorite subjects were literature and history, so I suppose it was inevitable that I would write a full-length work of “historical fiction,” and equally inevitable that my take on history would be unlike anyone else’s. For me, human history IS a story—a possible interpretation of events, told from one viewpoint—so the most challenging part of stitching the two together was making sure my reader had the information they needed to follow Sylvie’s narrative as it shifts from text to text, and era to era.

RR: What drew you to Nashville history initially? Were there any interesting facts you learned that did not find a home in the final novel?

JF: Nashville’s attempted exile of its prostitutes, in the summer of 1863, inspired Daughters of Chaos, but what convinced me to pursue the narrative was learning that Nashville was an occupied city for most of the Civil War (February 1862 – April 1865). When we consider civil wars, we tend to think of polarity—north and south—rather than of borderlands—the contested territories where warring groups often end up colliding most fiercely.

Before writing Daughters of Chaos, I’d never considered that the most hotly contested states in the Civil War—as well as those that hosted the greatest number of battles—were border states (Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky). It was in these areas that brother literally fought brother, that people who’d lived harmoniously together—families, friends, neighbors—were torn asunder by ideology. The more I learned about Nashville—a critical transportation and communications hub—the more convinced I became that the city could prove an ideal microcosm to stand in for the larger American conflict.

I used the story of Pauline Cushman, actress and Union spy, to help me construct Sylvie’s narrative, and in an earlier version of the novel, Cushman appeared as a character. Pauline Cushman was in Nashville during the summer of 1863, and Colonel William Truesdail (also a real person) sent her to gather intelligence from Confederate camps. Cushman was captured and nearly executed, but she was ultimately rescued by the Union army. During a major revision of Daughters of Chaos, I had to jettison Pauline Cushman, but aspects of her story helped me shape the final novel.

RR: Can you talk about the importance of queer histories? What responsibility do you think the present holds when looking back and playing with history?

JF: For me, queerness is not only about sexuality but also about a mindset—one of intense curiosity, fierce skepticism, and radical acceptance. Queer people have existed as long as human society has, but their stories haven’t often been centered, or even told. As an avid believer in the power of narratives, and a dedicated fictioneer, I see it as my job (not to mention my honor) to dream such figures into existence.

In terms of a responsibility to the past, I tend to see the “history” I’ve been taught as only one possible version of events, so I don’t believe that manipulating the past diminishes, disparages, or denigrates it. I believe, in fact, that playing with history as I do in Daughters of Chaos actually opens, refines, and enriches our larger understanding of our past, both individually and collectively.

RR: You blend historical inspiration with fantastic elements in this novel. Can you talk about the power of speculative storytelling? How does fabulism help us understand history in a different context?

JF: Fiction that injects the uncanny into the everyday—fabulism—is my innate mode of storytelling. Replacing an aspect of the workaday world with its opposite, or something else entirely—the planet is 99% water and 1% land, for instance, so people live on ships—enables us to see human beings, our society, our behaviors, in a brand-new context, and with fresh eyes. This phenomenon is basically one of defamiliarization, theorized by the Russian Formalist critic Viktor Shklovsky.

Shklovsky suggested that the purpose of all art is to “make a stone stony,” to force its audience to see—truly see—objects and figures to which, through the familiarity of daily contact, we have all become “blind.” Humankind seems to be losing interest in its own history; the past, after all, can feel pretty flat as presented to students, in textbooks. There’s little roundness to it, little animation. But when we defamiliarize a commonplace aspect of the past—have a lion narrate a story set in the Roman Colosseum, for instance—we’re forced to see the Romans, their entertainments, the level of their barbarity, in a new context. Such moves can reanimate history, breathing life back into the flattened record of our own past.

RR: Monstrous women are having a bit of a moment in fiction recently. What do you think draws us to stories of feminine chaos?

JF: Society has cast women in the role of the “weaker sex,” but that notion was always already false. We’re told that women are diminutive, quiet, and meek; we’re told that monsters are enormous, loud, and dangerous, and I think many of us receive an automatic thrill when those notions are inverted. Women can absolutely take up space; women can absolutely shake the heavens with a roar; women can absolutely tear men limb from limb.

I hope that by now, most of us understand that we (people) are our own monsters, but when it comes to locating the kind of raw, metaphysical, grisly, inexplicable abilities we’ve long attributed to monsters, there’s only one place to look—inside the womb, whence life (the only supernatural force I’ve encountered) emerges. Women are physically tougher than men, yes, but I also believe that feminine thought patterns—less linear, more associative, more abstract—enable us to change, to pivot, to metamorphose, which, let’s face it, makes us more effective monsters.

My favorite thing about writing Daughters of Chaos was learning that feminine chaos is, in fact, the source of absolutely everything.

RR: Congratulations on a fantastic debut novel! Can you tell us anything about your next project? Do you think you will always be drawn towards historical fiction?

JF: I’m currently working on a novel with a historical component, but I’m also working on a future-set novel in which women start reproducing via fragmentation rather than live birth. My interests are so varied that it’s hard to imagine I’ll ever stick to one genre.

The partly historical book is a speculative mystery set in a California Kirkbride insane asylum that’s been converted into condominiums. The (present-set) external story is that of a film professor who sublets a unit in the building as she works on a book about the disappearance of a 1940s film star once committed to the asylum. The (past-set) interior story, told through the diaries of the hospital’s head nurse, recounts the events that preceded the movie star’s disappearance.

The novel deals with the historical treatment of women’s mental health, big cats, Hollywood’s golden age, and feral children. The working title is Lady Maneater.

RR: And finally, we always end with this question: what is your favorite thing about indie bookstores?

JF: My mom’s favorite place on earth was Publishers Bookstore, an independent Little Rock, Arkansas, bookshop that shut down in the 1990s. I practically grew up at Publishers, and at the downtown public library, as my mom was a hardcore bibliophile. It saddens me that as a species, we’re losing sight of the critical importance of stories, and I’m so thankful that indie bookstores are here—and seemingly thriving—to remind us.

Daughters of Chaos is on our shelves now! Grab your copy here.

Lost and Found: 20 Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

Back to school time already?? How can it be so? The start of a new school year can be scary. If you’re feeling a little lost, you’re not alone. Lots of characters in this month’s staff pick roundup feel a bit adrift too. But even when you’re lost, there’s so much happiness to be found! New friends, new adventures, and new growth can be found among these great reads. Grab your favorite and meet the new school year with bravery and curiosity!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann The Dictionary Story

By Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston

The Dictionary Story is a delightful tale with fun illustrations. Dictionary wants to tell a story like all the other books, but when she does, unexpected things happen. A friend comes along to help her put things back in order.

Recommended by Rachel Into the Goblin Market

By Vikki VanSickle, Jensine Eckwall (Illustrator)

A beautiful tribute to the timeless poem by Christina Rosetti, this picture book reminds me of the strange fascination I had with goblins and fairy tales as a child. A bedtime story and a whimsical dream all in one!

Recommended by Chelsea Go, Wilma, Go!: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist

By Amira Rose Davis, Michael G. Long, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)

Told with a chantable refrain and collage illustrations, this is more than just the story of how Wilma won a gold medal! This tells the story of what happens once Wilma got home after experiencing Europe where she wasn’t treated differently because of her skin color. This is the story of activist Wilma Rudolph, one that is not as well known but is just as important. This belongs on every bookshelf.

Recommended by Rae Ann King Lion

By Emma Yarlett

King Lion is a unique friendship tale with delightful illustrations. A fierce lion demands new friends, but a little girl helps him learn the art of friendship. A story of empathy and battling preconceived notions.

Recommended by Sarah The Quacken

By Justin Colón, Pablo Pino (Illustrator)

What’s up with the ducks at Cucumonga Campground? Legend has it that a giant duck roams the grounds, always in search of its next big meal. When Hector breaks the rules and feeds the ducks, The Quacken emerges! Pick up this laugh-out-loud story to find out what happens next.

Recommended by Rae Ann Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble

By Briony May Smith

Tiny Jenny is a wingless fairy born in a nest of wrens. She goes in search of her fairy family and hopes to earn her wings. After a surprising journey, she finds where she truly belongs in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Recommended by Rachel Crick, Crack, Crow!

By Janet Lord, Julie Paschkis (Illustrator)

A corvid lover’s dream for the young or young at heart! Whimsical watercolor illustrations, rhyming, and lots of facts about your favorite clever birds!

Recommended by Rae Ann Wolfgang in the Meadow

By Lenny Wen

A little ghost finds joy in the meadow where he lives, but his dream is to become spooky. But what if joy is best?

Recommended by Chelsea Sheepwrecked

By Ashley Belote

These adventures of a sheep pirate crew had me laughing out loud. Full of puns and witty dialogue, this will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Recommended by Rae Ann Little Ghost Makes a Friend

By Maggie Edkins Willi

This story about a ghost and a girl becoming friends on Halloween is the perfect blend of sweet and spooky.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann Fowl Play

By Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

Chloe leaves the reading of her uncle’s will with a parrot who spouts words like “Murder” and “Cyanide”. She launches into an investigation with her family that takes them on a journey of discovery and togetherness.

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Ashby Such Charming Liars

By Karen M. McManus

Jamie is a jewel thief planning to go straight after one last score. Jamie and her daughter Kat cross paths with Liam and his dad Luke who was married to Jamie for 24 hours a long time ago. Both Luke and Jamie plan to fleece the same woman. Jamie plans to swap a diamond necklace for a perfect fake and Luke plans to marry her and get her money. A murder takes place complicating everyone’s plans.

Recommended by Aly Hearts Overboard

By Becky Dean

Savannah is determined not to be boring. In a very public breakup, her ex told everyone at school that she was. That can’t be the case, especially on a cruise with her (very cute) arch enemy into the Alaskan wilderness. What could possibly be boring about that?

Recommended by Natalie The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky

By Josh Galarza

A poignant and important story that feels like a hug to your younger self. Brett has been struggling ever since his adoptive mother was diagnosed with cancer. He tries to express his emotions in his comic books but is plagued by a negative relationship with food and body image. When Brett’s journal is discovered by his school, he must reach out for help to find a way through the pain of grief and adolescence.

Recommended by Chelsea There Is a Door in This Darkness

By Kristin Cashore

It’s the fall of 2020, and Wilhelmina had a very different plan of what her gap year was supposed to be. What follows is an emotionally complex journey of Wilhelmina stepping into her own, and Cashore takes the reader through every moment alongside Wilhelmina. A tender examination of grief and growth, this novel gave me so much to think about. I already miss the characters.

Recommended by Chloe Youth Group

By Jordan Morris, Bowen McCurdy (Illustrator)

If you’re looking for a darker graphic novel with spooks and scares while also being comedic, then this is the book for you. This book is like if The Exorcist became a comedy. It is set sometime in the 90’s so it has a nostalgic feeling to it as well. It features three teens fighting literal demons and figuring themselves out. What more could you want?

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Hannah P. Everlost (The Skinjacker Trilogy #1)

By Neal Shusterman

After a fatal car accident, Allie and Nick find themselves in an afterlife limbo called Everlost, a magical but dangerous land of lost places and things. Just be careful not to forget your old life, or you might be stuck there forever. Neal Shusterman is the ultimate world-builder and this was one of my favorite books as a teen, guaranteed to yank you out of your reading slump!

Recommended by Tara The Doll People

By Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

If you’ve ever imagined your toys coming to life when you’re not looking, this is the book for you. The Doll family has lived in their dollhouse for over a century when a new doll family, the Funcrafts, move next door. The Doll People sparks imagination and takes readers on a journey to unravel the mystery.

Recommended by Hannah P. The Phantom Tollbooth

By Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer (Illustrator)

I read this book when I was 10 (as a bored kid like Milo who doodled in class and struggled to pay attention), and I still think about it every day. I will forever attribute my love of puns, wordplay, and sense of humor to this witty book. This is an adventure novel unlike any other, exploring language and the magic of learning that surrounds us all the time, even when we can’t see it.

Sprout Book Club: August Selection Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble

By Briony May Smith

The August 2024 Sprout Book Club selection is Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble by Briony May Smith. Tiny Jenny is a mischievous fairy born to a family of wrens. When she doesn’t fit in with the forest creatures, she decides to set out to find other fairies like her. But there’s more to belonging than being just alike on the outside.

Early praise for the book:

“Smith (The Mermaid Moon) combines elegantly rendered mixed-media images with whip-smart humor and an irrepressible protagonist—the result is a fractured fairy story with a distinctly contemporary sensibility.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: August Selection Fowl Play

By Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

The August 2024 Spark Book Club pick is Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb. When Chloe Alvarez inherits her uncle’s parrot, she is surprised, but when the parrot begins saying words like “Murder”, she’s alarmed. Chloe begins investigating her uncle’s possible murder with the help of her family in this fun and quirky mystery.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“A mystery unfolds within a compelling, joyful story of honoring a loved one by living in the moment.” – Kirkus

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: August Selection Death at Morning House

By Maureen Johnson

The August 2024 ParnassusNext selection is Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson. Marlowe Wexler is sent to an island for a summer job as a tour guide after she accidentally starts a house fire. Morning House is a tourist attraction that hides a deadly secret. The person who hired Marlowe goes missing and she may be next.

Early praise for the novel:

“An engaging and expansive mystery.” – Kirkus

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Settling In: 39 Reads for August

School is starting, summer vacations are wrapping up, and we’re all settling into a new routine. Make the inevitable (yet always disappointing) transition easier by picking up a new read to look forward to as we make the gradual shift to autumn. After all, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book at the end of a long day. Here’s what our booksellers have been loving recently!

FICTIONRecommended by Lindsay Lo Fi: A Novel

By Liz Riggs

With her debut Lo Fi, Liz Riggs has written a love letter to Nashville, music, and creative self discovery. Al is an aspiring songwriter who’s found herself stamping hands at a music venue, navigating her career and messy relationships between shifts and late nights. If you’ve been the person standing alone in a crowd while your significant other plays on stage, wondering if you’ll ever have your moment–Lo Fi is for you.

Recommended by Rae Ann Tell It to Me Singing: A Novel

By Tita Ramirez

A woman’s mother reveals a family secret before surgery. Juan is your father. Confession or pre-op haze? The stories of this mother-daughter duo’s past and present are revealed with the backdrop of their favorite telenovela framing the story of their family in this literary mystery.

Recommended by Kathy The Heart in Winter: A Novel

By Kevin Barry

Do you like quirky, a-bit-alternative westerns? Here is an Irish novel set in 1891 Butte, Montana, a love story between two wild people fleeing their past and heading for trouble. Such a fun, quick read!

Recommended by Rachel The God of the Woods: A Novel

By Liz Moore

A dramatic multi-POV tale of two children lost in the woods, a brother and a sister, one in 1975 and the other 14 years prior. This far-reaching narrative takes you deep in the woods of a small community and all their innermost secrets.

Recommended by Maddie Banal Nightmare: A Novel

By Halle Butler

A witty, deadpan, meandering, and relatable story with a cast of characters who you love to loathe. This book felt like watching a reality TV show where you’re witnessing a group of people all seemingly competing among themselves to see whose life is secretly more messed up, and they’re all winning.

Recommended by Jake Long Island Compromise: A Novel

By Taffy Brodesser-Akner

A wealthy family’s suburban paradise is shattered when their patriarch is kidnapped and held for ransom. Returned only a few days later, the family is seemingly fine. Decades later, however, it’s clear that the kidnapping affected each family member in different, frequently ridiculous ways. An engaging familial epic, Long Island Compromise is also the funniest novel ever written about generational trauma.

Recommended by Lindsay There Is Happiness: New and Selected Stories

By Brad Watson

This posthumous collection of stories from Brad Watson is surreal, beautiful, Southern, strange, and a hundred other adjectives that Brad would’ve told me were excessive if he workshopped this staff rec. Brad’s incredible writing and mentorship convinced me to live in Wyoming for two years, and hopefully picking up this collection will convince you to love his work as much as I do.

Recommended by Ashby The Wedding People: A Novel

By Alison Espach

Can a wedding change everything? Phoebe checks into the Cornwall Inn as the only guest not there for the wedding. The bride discovers Phoebe has come for one night with the intention of killing herself and is determined to not let her since it would ruin her wedding. The wedding and the people in attendance change everything, waking Phoebe up, bringing her back to life.

Recommended by Jennifer The Seventh Veil of Salome

By Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In this resplendent tale of old Hollywood, we meet three women: the dangerous and seductive Nancy trying to get ahead of the game, the naive but strong Vera, and the mysterious legend of Salome. Through these three women, Moreno-Garcia captures the glitz, gossip, and dark underbelly of one of the most glamourous times in American history.

Recommended by Hannah P. The Rich People Have Gone Away: A Novel

By Regina Porter

I was immediately sucked into a trance when reading this kaleidoscopic novel. Told through short vignettes, the lives of various New Yorkers intersect in the search to find a missing woman. Weaved within the rich plot and diverse web of characters are pulsating themes of race, privilege, history, and betrayal that will stay with you long after you’ve finished.

Recommended by RJ The Pairing: Special 1st Edition

By Casey McQuiston

A pair of exes accidentally embark on a European food tour together, only to discover there was more to the story of their breakup than either suspected. A vivid journey full of sensuously described meals and landscapes provide a vivid backdrop to this emotional second-chance romance.

Recommended by Jenness Beep: A Novel

By Bill Roorbach

Our hero, Beep the Monkey, travels from Central America to New York and incites a revolution in defense of the Earth against climate change. The animals rise up, the children rise up, the world takes notice. A heartwarming, inspiring call-to-arms

Recommended by Rae Ann A Novel Summer

By Jamie Brenner

A woman who spent her summers on Cape Cod returns to celebrate her debut novel. Instead of a reunion of friends, she’s met with anger about the contents of her book. When the bookstore where she spent her summers, needs her behind the counter again, she finds herself and her community again in this delightful beach read.

Recommended by Ashby Errands & Espionage

By Sam Tschida

Remember the 80s TV show Scarecrow and Mrs. King? Suburban mom to secret agent. Recent divorcee, Gabby is recruited to stand-in for a murdered spy she resembles. Minivans, homework, laundry, Mr. Bubbles the dog, mob bosses, dart guns, money laundering, Russian oligarchs. Gabby ditches her yoga pants, reclaims herself and kicks some butt along the way.

Recommended by Katie It’s Elementary

By Elise Bryant

For lovers of Kylie Reid and Jesse Sutanto, It’s Elementary is the new quick-witted and fun mystery from Elise Bryant. As one of the few Black parents at her child’s school, Mavis Miller finds herself reluctantly leading the new DEI committee and embroiled in school politics and potential criminal activity. A cozy mystery with a smidge of romance at the center, this book is a great summer read.

Recommended by Jennifer A Sorceress Comes to Call

By T. Kingfisher

When a sorceress and her strange daughter arrive on Hester’s doorstep, nothing can prepare her for the chaos that ensues afterwards. With the help of a former love, a gambler, and a very tired butler, Hester must find a way to thwart the dark power that threatens to take over her home. The perfect marriage of fantasy, regency, mystery, and humor, this book is the definition of a page turner.

Recommended by Tara Tehrangeles: A Novel

By Porochista Khakpour

This one is for the Bravo girlies. A satirical take on a family making a reality show pre- and during the pandemic. Anytime I wasn’t reading this, I was thinking about it constantly.

Recommended by Chelsea Nicked: A Novel

By M. T. Anderson

This religious heist set in 1087 featuring a monk and a treasure hunter made me laugh out loud, gasp at the action scenes, and ultimately stole my heart. Anderson’s adult debut handles faith and love with such wit. I’m already pondering a re-read in the near future.

Recommended by Rachel Daughters of Chaos: A Novel

By Jen Fawkes

Civil War era Nashville + secret society of powerful women + queer representation + a speculative twist = your next read

Recommended by Cheryl They Dream in Gold

By Mai Sennaar

This debut novel begins almost at the end of the story. They are from Senegal, Switzerland, America and Paris yet they all come together. How can we be brave orphans opening ourselves to trust and love? Music and setting help form the unforgettable characters.

Recommended by Jennifer Navola: A Novel

By Paolo Bacigalupi

Davico is the son of one of the most powerful families in Navola, a wealthy and seductive city in the realm. However, in this Italian-influenced fantasy, there is always a dangerous plot, always something cunning underneath the smiles of the elite. Power is a game, and someone must lose.

Recommended by Raegyn In the Shadow of the Fall (Guardians of the Gods #1)

By Tobi Ogundiran

To be an outcast is to be alone, and hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. For years, Ashâke has watched her fellow acolytes ascend to priesthood, but she remains the only one the orisha won’t speak to. Now, a cosmic war is looming, with Ashâke at the heart of it. In the Shadow of the Fall starts a duology of power, destiny, and cosmic forces that shape our lives, reminiscent of the fantasy queen N.K. Jemisin.

Recommended by RJ Woodworm

By Layla Martinez, Sophie Hughes (Translator), Annie McDermott (Translator)

Woodworm is a short, strange novel spanning generations of women’s trauma and vengeance. A haunted house story unlike any you’ve read before.

Recommended by Katie Jewel Me Twice

By Charish Reid

Two career thieves and former lovers reunite for one last heist to honor their long-time mentor in this sexy sophomore romance from Cherish Reid. If you love rooting for the anti-hero, crave a good adventure romance and want spice for days, Jewel Me Twice is a must for your TBR stack. Charish Reid has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors.

Recommended by Patsy Pearce Oysters

By Joselyn Takacs

How can Benny manage to keep the family oyster business going? Debut author Joselyn Takacs skillfully weaves a layered tale recounting the effects of the historic 2010 oil spill on the Louisiana coast and its businesses, communities, and residents. If you enjoy a good family saga and have an affinity for the Gulf Coast, this book is for you.

Recommended by Tara Not Another Love Song

By Julie Soto

Not only is this the best cover of 2024, but this book absolutely CONSUMED me. Not Another Love Song follows Gwen as she navigates sharing the string section of the Pops Quartet with orchestra’s bad boy, Xander Thorne. This rivals-to-lovers romance is sizzling with chemistry between the two main characters and is nearly impossible to put down.

Recommended by A.J. The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur

By Lev Grossman

I’m a sucker for any type of retelling, and Grossman knocks it out of the park with this Arthurian tale. The story follows Collum–a knight who arrives at Camelot too late–and fleshes out many characters in the Arthurian canon who receive less attention. Perfect middle of a Madeline Miller-George R.R. Martin Venn diagram.

NONFICTION & POETRYRecommended by Jenness Women Behind the Wheel: An Unexpected and Personal History of the Car

By Nancy A. Nichols

As the daughter of a Car Guy – and a female driver – I was drawn to this part-memoir, part-history account of women and the automobile. The oh-so-gendered marketing, design, and usage of vehicles since the early 1900s is fascinating and infuriating.

Recommended by Jordan A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy

By Tia Levings

This memoir by Tia Levings, who was featured in the documentary Shiny Happy People, tells the story of a brave woman’s escape from an abusive fundamentalist marriage and lifestyle. This is the perfect book to read while we unpack our religious trauma and fight for our rights.

Recommended by Chelsea All That Glitters: A Story of Friendship, Fraud, and Fine Art

By Orlando Whitfield

This is the meteoric rise and then fall of Inigo Philbrick, a young art dealer who is ultimately convicted of fraud, as told by his friend and one-time business partner. The author holds back nothing, giving the reader a true peek behind the curtain into the sometimes morally gray world of art dealing. If you were a fan of Anna Delvey’s drama or The Art Thief, make this your next read.

Recommended by Ashby Geoffrey Chaucer: Unveiling the Merry Bard

By Mary Flannery

Dr. Conlee’s Chaucer course at William & Mary began with his recitation of the Canterbury Tales prologue in Middle English. Chaucer wrote prose and poetry, in French and English. His works span the tragic love of Troilus and Cressida to fart jokes. Beyond writing, Chaucer held a range of positions during a period of British upheaval. Flannery’s depiction made me want to invite him to a dinner party.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Hannah P. We’re Safe When We’re Alone

By Tran Nghiem

Son and Father are the only living beings in a world of ghosts. Son doesn’t remember his life before Father saved him. When Father says it’s time to venture into the mysterious, shadowed world outside, Son questions everything he knows. This is a haunted house story flipped on its head, a lyrical masterpiece, a fever dream, and a coming-of-age story about being pushed into a world that doesn’t feel meant for you.

Recommended by Katie The Boyfriend Project

By Farrah Rochon

Recently the NY Times made a big list of the top 100 books of the 21st century and there was nary a romance in sight. For shame! If they had only reached out I would have told them that The Boyfriend Project, first in a trilogy by the fabulous Farrah Rochon, would absolutely be on that list. We love this series for its strong female friendships, hot AF MCs, and so much more! The perfect backlist summer read.

Recommended by Ester The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive

By Brandon Sanderson

Do NOT look at the page count. Trust me, it is worth every page, chapter, and word. The Way of Kings has some of the best characters and plot I have ever read in fantasy. I feel like a little wind spren companion, immersed in the world of Roshar. I’m obsessed and I repeat: Do NOT look at the page count.

Recommended by Naomi The Push

By Ashley Audrain

Blythe, a new mother, is heartbroken and disappointed when she cannot form a connection to her newborn daughter Violet. But as Violet grows older and devastating “accidents” begin to occur around her daughter, Blythe wonders if Violet may be more sinister than she appears.

Recommended by Katie 84, Charing Cross Road

By Helene Hanff

An epistolary memoir composed of letters shared over twenty years between the author and Frank Doel, Chief Buyer for Marks & Co, an antiquarian bookseller. A simple premise, but the book is so utterly delightful. Readers will be quickly charmed by Helene and Frank. If you want a cozy little classic to consume in one sitting, 84, Charing Cross Rd is absolutely the book for you.

Recommended by A.J. White House by the Sea: A Century of the Kennedys at Hyannis Port

By Kate Storey

Tracing a century of family history, shenanigans, traditions, and tragedy, White House by the Sea tells the story of the Kennedy Complex on Hyannis Port from Joe Kennedy’s purchase of the land in the early 20th cent. to the modern day. It explores not just Jack and Bobby, but all the family members. Great Americana summer escapism.

First Editions Club: August Selection Tell Me Everything: A Novel

By Elizabeth Strout

I don’t know how Elizabeth Strout does it. Every report from the world of Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge and dear Bob Burgess holds me spellbound. I sit down thinking, Is this going to work? Can she do it again? And I stand up thinking, This is the best one of all. There is a directness and clarity in the writing that could be confused with simplicity, but it’s the least simple thing in the world. As readers we are taken in, as one is taken into the confidence of a friend. The story pours out and we gratefully accept it. I don’t know anyone who writes like Elizabeth Strout, and I find her work wildly inspiring. She makes me want to be a better writer.

But what if you’ve never read her before? What if the names Lucy and Olive and Bob mean nothing to you? Don’t worry. Life is a narrative, and you can jump in anywhere you want. It will all make sense, and then you’ll have the supreme pleasure of going back to read all the Strout novels that came before.

What is Tell Me Everything about? Love and friendship. Loss and regret. Everything and nothing at all. In that way it is very much like life. I loved it, and I’m betting you will, too.

Ann Patchett

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Love, Parnassus: August Selection Love and Other Conspiracies

By Mallory Marlowe

Calling all cryptid enthusiasts! You are in for a treat this August with our Love, Parnassus pick! Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe is a delightful romance between a cynical web producer and paranormal conspiracy theorist who discover that the hardest thing to believe in isn’t Bigfoot, but true love. If you ever found yourself watching Scooby Doo on a Saturday morning and wishing somebody would kiss already, Love and Other Conspiracies is the book for you!“If Hayden and Hallie’s show Out There were real, I would ABSOLUTELY be in the comment threads shipping them and posting timestamps for my favorite close encounters. Mallory Marlowe’s debut Love and Other Conspiracies is the most fun possible — chock-full of references to conspiracies that can be debated but also chemistry that can’t be denied. I’m obsessed with this book!”—Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of With Love, from Cold World“Mallory Marlowe awakened my Mulder-Scully ship obsession in the most thrilling way with her captivating debut that will leave even the most steadfast skeptics believing in love. The truth IS out there: Love and Other Conspiracies is a 10!”—Jo Segura, USA Today bestselling author of Raiders of the Lost Heart

The Love, Parnassus box is a monthly subscription box for romance readers curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Each month you will receive a first edition book (which is sometimes signed), a letter from the author, a custom sticker, and a bookmark to track your reading. The Love, Parnassus selection will focus on debut and new-to-you romance authors. Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite romance reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Something’s Missing: Our Additions to the NYT Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent the past week analyzing, discussing, and rewriting the New York Times‘ Top 100 Books of the 21st Century list. Lots of folks have taken issue with books being left out. (So many so that the Times created a readers’ version of the list as well!) But we’re talking twenty-four years of books here — there will inevitably be some favorites that don’t make the cut. That said, in our wildest dreams, the Parnassus staff would have been consulted to add a handful of equally great titles to an already great list. Seeing as the Times has yet to give us a call, we’ve decided to make our own list of additions, accompanied by a few words we’d use to describe these honorable mentions.

Cat’s Additions Circe

By Madeline Miller

“Introspective, feminist, and mythological”

Imagine Me Gone

By Adam Haslett

“Heart-breaking, vivid, and thoughtful”

Katie’s Additions The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

By Shannon Chakraborty

“Heroic, adventurous, and transportive”

Something Wild & Wonderful

By Anita Kelly

“Tender, big-hearted, and revolutionary”

Mac’s Additions On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel

By Ocean Vuong

“Reflective, American, and sobering”

Night Sky with Exit Wounds

By Ocean Vuong

“Thoughtful, gay, and expansive”

Tara’s Additions Before I Let Go

By Kennedy Ryan

“Sexy, mature, and deeply romantic”

A Man Called Ove: A Novel

By Fredrik Backman

“Hopeful, poignant, and weepy”

Rachel’s Additions Beartown: A Novel

By Fredrik Backman

“Gut-wrenching, intimate, and profound”

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution

By R. F. Kuang

“Entirely original, thought provoking, and life altering”

RJ’s Additions Nothing to See Here: A Novel

By Kevin Wilson

“Emotional, hilarious, and unique”

This Is How You Lose the Time War

By Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone

“Poetic, sweeping, and transformative”

Rae Ann’s AdditionsT he Night Circus: A Novel

By Erin Morgenstern

“Transportive and fantastical”

Lindsay’s Additions Life on Mars: Poems

By Tracy K. Smith

“Space! Grief!! Bowie!!!”

Less: A Novel

By Andrew Sean Greer

“Oh happy gays!”

Chelsea’s Additions Homegoing

By Yaa Gyasi

“Powerful, emotional, and well-crafted”

Aly’s Additions Bunny: A Novel

By Mona Awad

“Dark, humorous, and weird”

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories

By Kevin Wilson

“Real, alluring, and tenacious”

Elyse’s Additions The Dutch House: A Novel

By Ann Patchett

“Beautifully layered and brilliantly written”

My Year Abroad: A Novel

By Chang-rae Lee

“Powerful, complex, and compelling”

Sarah’s Additions The Kite Runner

By Khaled Hosseini

“Affecting, perceptive, and stunning”

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

By Bryan Stevenson

“Illuminating, infuriating, and hopeful”

Heath’s Additions The Song of Achilles: A Novel

By Madeline Miller

“Heartbreaking, transporting, and powerful”

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel

By Susanna Clarke

“Otherworldly, magic, and unforgettable”

Camp Parnassus: 13 Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

Welcome to Camp Parnassus! At this summer camp, we have one activity: reading! (Shocker, we know.) But really, what could be better? Books, dogs, and air conditioning! Our camp counselors (also known as booksellers) have some great ideas for your next read. Have a browse below, or come in and see us!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Hannah P. Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden

By Christy Mandin

This charming story is all about celebrating the beauty in being weird. When Millie moves to the cookie-cutter Garden Glen, her stuffy neighbors don’t approve of her strange and spooky plants. But Millie wants to share the joy of her garden with everyone! Can she show them that things can be unusual and beautiful at the same time?

Recommended by Chelsea The Yellow Bus

By Loren Long

This heartfelt picture book is all about finding joy and purpose in every stage of life. Just a few words accompany Long’s detailed illustrations, and readers of all ages will delight at the hopefulness found in these pages.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Digger and the Dark (The Digger Series)

By Joseph Kuefler

I love the Digger series! In their latest adventure, the big machines are visited by two raccoons who are ready for a rip-roaring good time each evening, making it hard for Digger and the gang to complete their daytime tasks. A sweet display of kindness and thinking of others.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Chloe Camp Prodigy

By Caroline Palmer

Tate goes to summer camp to get better at violin. Eli is a well known violinist who has stage fright. The two meet and navigate this music camp together with some friendly competition. They both aim for first chair and the solo at the big final performance. Will their friendship survive this camp or will the stress of the final performance get to them both? I can’t recommend this sweet graphic novel enough!

Recommended by Jordan I’m from Here Too

By Kashmira Sheth

If you have never tried reading a novel in verse before, Kashmira Sheth’s I’m From Here Too is a great chance to explore something new and beautiful. Anoop is an 8th grader beginning a new school year and and exploring his identity as a brother, son, friend, student, and an Indian American Sikh boy. The tenets of his faith help him navigate life’s pains and pleasure in this fast-paced but emotional read.

Recommended by Hannah P. Olivetti

By Allie Millington

I can’t express how much I loved this heartfelt mystery. Told from the perspectives of a forgotten typewriter and a word-obsessed boy searching for his missing mother, this story is brimming with wit, adventure, and emotion. It will stay with you long after you have finished!

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Aly Six More Months of June

By Daisy Garrison

Mina and Caplan have been friends forever, but as their high school journey comes to a close, is now really the time to see if they could be something more? Daisy Garrison come out of the gate swinging with banter, and heart, and all the future nostalgia of the end of something mixed with the beginning of something else. You have to read this.

Recommended by Jordan This Is Me Trying

By Racquel Marie

Bryce, Beatriz, and Santiago used to be inseparable as children, until high school when Santiago moved away and Bryce and Beatriz started dating. Three years later, Bryce has passed away and Santiago is back to navigate grief, love, and friendship after a heartbreaking loss. Please check the author’s note at the beginning of the book for trigger warnings.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Raegyn Delicious Monsters

By Liselle Sambury

Daisy sees dead people, and that’s the least of her problems. She and her mom inherit the “Miracle Mansion,” but there still isn’t enough room for their skeletons. Brittney longs to expose Miracle Mansion for what it is: a lie. After all, how can a mansion be miraculous if dead bodies lurk inside? Delicious Monsters will keep you up at night with the most heinous monsters imaginable: those who hide in plain sight.

Recommended by Jenny The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

By Holly Black

When Tana wakes up from a party with a vampire bite, she does the responsible thing and heads to a “coldtown,” a place where the infected are confined. Tana expects danger, but when she meets a strange vampire, the stakes rise. Will she survive the odds stacked against her or will her humanity twist into something else? With dark humor and even darker characters, this book has become a new favorite.

Recommended by Rae Ann Holes

By Louis Sachar

Holes is one of my top 10 favorite books of all time! A case of mistaken identity, a search for buried treasure, and courage to help a friend. Put this on your summer reading list today!

Sprout Book Club: July Selection Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden

By Christy Mandin

The July 2024 Sprout Book Club selection is Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin. Garden Glen is a plain town, until Millie Fleur arrives. She plants a strange garden that everyone avoids, until she finds friends who appreciate its beauty. This delightful picture book is a celebration of everything wonderfully weird.

Early praise for the book:

“No poison here; just a garden of delights about someone who improves things in a unique fashion.” – Kirkus

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: July Selection Faker

By Gordon Korman

The July 2024 Spark Book Club pick is Faker by Gordan Korman. Trey’s dad is a con artist. When Trey goes to a new school, his job is to make friends with rich kids so his dad can swindle their parents before the family makes a quick getaway. When Trey gets tired of all the lying, his sister steps in to help. Can Trey convince his father to leave their life of lies and stay in one place so he can make real friends?

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Glitzy glimpses of life on the make, lightened by a focus on alternatives rather than consequences.” – Kirkus

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: July Selection Time and Time Again

By Chatham Greenfield

The July 2024 ParnassusNext selection is Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield. Phoebe Mendel wakes up on August 6th, repeatedly. She’s stuck in a time loop, reliving the same boring day over and over. When Jess, the girl she has a crush on, hits Phoebe with her car, they’re stuck in the time loop together. Phoebe wonders if she’ll ever get out of the time loop and make it to the important appointment she’s been waiting for, or if she wants to stay stuck with Jess on this repeating day.

Early praise for the novel:

“An original twist on a well-grounded romantic storyline.” – Kirkus

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

More Than There’s Ever Been: 46 Reads for July

Forty-six books has to be the new record for the largest number of books picked for a staff rec roundup. With this number of bookseller-approved titles, there must be a great new read for just about everyone. Have a look and report back!

FICTIONRecommended by Katie Sandwich: A Novel

By Catherine Newman

This is a book I will place in the hands of every 40-something woman trying to balance raising kiddos and aging parents while attempting to have some semblance of intimacy within their marriage. I had no idea I needed to read this book, and I am so grateful I did. Funny and poignant, I will reread this book on the hard days and remind myself it’s okay to laugh (and cry).

Also loved by Marcia!

Recommended by Lindsay Same As It Ever Was: A Novel

By Claire Lombardo

With her sophomore novel, Same As It Ever Was, Claire Lombardo has proven that she’s one our greatest domestic novelists, able to examine family dynamics and tensions across time and circumstances. Lombardo constructs her characters with such tenderness and empathy, embracing them in all their flawed messiness. I adored this one!

Recommended by Elyse Bear: A Novel

By Julia Phillips

Bear is a hauntingly beautiful novel, set on a remote island off the Northwest Pacific coast where two sisters dream of a better life off the island. When a strange and mysterious bear appears, each of their lives are changed in different ways. This story (and fairy tale and allegory) stays with you long after you’ve read the final page.

Also loved by Cat!

Recommended by Marcia Swan Song

By Elin Hilderbrand

Coco arrives on Nantucket for the summer, working for the couple who just bought the most expensive house on the island. They have over-the-top parties, and lots of them. Everyone jockeys for the hand-delivered invites. As more & more people observe them, they begin to question if these two are for real or if it’s all smoke & mirrors. When Coco goes missing & the house burns down, Chief has one last case to solve.

Also loved by Rae Ann!

Recommended by Chelsea The Midnight Feast: A Novel

By Lucy Foley

I know everything is compared to White Lotus these days, but this truly filled the gap while we wait on season three. Dual timelines and multiple points of view kept me on my toes, and I really enjoyed the ambiguity of the characters. Do I hate them all? Do I love them all? Who am I rooting for? This page turner will keep you entertained until the cataclysmic ending.

Recommended by Ashby Welcome to Glorious Tuga: A Novel

By Francesca Segal

Thrilled to find this is the first book of three! Charlotte goes to Tuga to study tortoises, but everything changes. She starts tending animals…and people tend her. There are sparks between Charlotte and the island’s doctor, but his fiancée is headed to Tuga too. Segal created a world I loved visiting. The characters are so real, and what they deal with is too. I cannot wait to spend more time with Tugans.

Recommended by Maddie A Cage Went in Search of a Bird: Ten Kafkaesque Stories

By Tommy Orange, Ali Smith, Naomi Alderman, Elif Batuman, Helen Oyeyemi

I couldn’t get enough of this collection. These stories are just like the best of Kafka: surreal and chilling and witty and weird.

Recommended by Cheryl All the Colors of the Dark

By Chris Whitaker

This novel starts with the story of two awkward teens who build a fantasy world to cope with being teased in school. Then one is kidnapped and childhood ends. They never give up in their quests to save and find. It is a mystery and a love story.

Also loved by Kathy!

Recommended by Sarah Blessings: A Novel

By Chukwuebuka Ibeh

A heartbreaking and deeply impactful queer coming of age story set in Nigeria. Perfect for fans of Khaled Hosseini and Akwaeke Emezi. I’m eager to see what Ibeh does next!

Recommended by Sydney Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil

By Ananda Lima

This debut is best described as a novel in stories, but it’s more than that. Our protagonist slept with the Devil in 1999, and has since been writing stories for him. These stories are interrupted with chapters to key the reader in on what is actually happening with the writer in her real life, and this juxtaposition is unlike anything else I’ve ever read in any short story collection. Fun, yet uneasy—in a good way.

Also loved by Jenness!

Recommended by Ashby The Rom-Commers: A Novel

By Katherine Center

Emma is a writer. Her hero? Charlie Yates, famous screenwriter. Emma’s career hasn’t taken off because she’s been caring for her father. Given the dream opportunity to help fix his badly written rom-com, Emma heads to LA. Charlie doesn’t want to work with her and doesn’t want to fix his script. Emma has to teach him what rom-coms are and what love is, which might take actual practice for him to understand.

Recommended by Rachel Concerning the Future of Souls

By Joy Williams

99 interconnected works of flash fiction, Concerning the Future of Souls draws from larger than life historical, religious, and philosophical figures ruminating on end-of-life. Joy Williams has the singular talent of causing an existential crisis with ten words or less.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Cliffs: A Novel

By J. Courtney Sullivan

A century’s worth of secrets hide in a Victorian mansion on a Maine cliff. A woman begins to uncover them as she searches for her true self in this amazing novel.

Recommended by Tara Summer Romance

By Annabel Monaghan

Newly single mom Ali is wrestling with balancing it all post divorce and the loss of her mother. A summer fling is just what she needs to get her back into pants with a zipper and living for herself. Summer Romance is a poignant novel perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Carley Fortune.

Recommended by Jake The Art of Catching Feelings

By Alicia Thompson

Newly divorced and a few drinks in, Daphne heckles a baseball player and accidently makes him cry on live television. DM’ing him to apologize, the two quickly connect…only to realize she never actually identified herself as his heckler. As the season (and their relationship) progresses, she wonders how much longer she can keep it up. Charming and full of electric chemistry, this book is practically a perfect game.

Also loved by Tara!

Recommended by Mac Beautiful Days: Stories

By Zach Williams

This collection felt to me like a clinical study on how to write a short story. The opening story hits hard, and there is no reprieve in quality. Great writing, great stories – I loved it. The short story is so back.

Recommended by Ashby The Glassmaker: A Novel

By Tracy Chevalier

This novel teaches and transports, combining an engrossing plot with fascinating facts. Glassblowing, artisan families, life in Murano. Chevalier depicts Murano: moving from trade to tourism. A woman, Orsola, should not be a glassblower but circumstances make her one, allowing her to save her family. You will be captured by Chevalier’s characters and circumstances, unable to stop reading.

Recommended by Katie A Love Like the Sun

By Riss M. Neilson

There is something about a friends to lovers that gives me butterflies like no other. This is a tender little gem of a book that follows two best friends, Laniah and Isaac, who agree to utilize Isaac’s clout as an artist/model and fake date in order to save Laniah and her mom’s natural hair care business. With beautiful chronic illness rep and an INSANE amount of chemistry, this book is a slice of perfection.

Recommended by RJ The Future Was Color: A Novel

By Patrick Nathan

The Future Was Color is a meditative and melancholy story following a gay Hungarian immigrant through the phases of his life. George struggles to make meaningful art in a world made senseless by war, and struggles to find love in a time when it was criminalized, against the backdrops of New York’s art scene and McCarthy’s Hollywood.

Recommended by Tara Wild Love (Rose Hill)

By Elsie Silver

Elsie Silver could teach a masterclass in how to write yearning. Wild Love follows Rosie as she navigates moving back to her hometown. She begins to work for her brother’s best friend (who happens to be a billionaire) and illicit romance ensues.

Recommended by Sissy Horror Movie: A Novel

By Paul Tremblay

I just so happened to see The Blair Witch Project the night before finishing this novel. What a treat! If you know the history of the making of that movie, you will see parallels, but the story is completely fresh and suspenseful. Tremblay follows young, aspiring filmmakers and amateur actors as they stretch the boundaries of “pretend” while making an experimental film. Terrifying, moving, and hilarious.

Also loved by Jenness!

Recommended by Katie A Shore Thing

By Joanna Lowell

Queer Victorian romance between a botanist and a reformed rake? Yay! A delicious bicycle race through the Cornish Coast? Yay Yay! So much steam while also smashing the patriarchy? YAY! This book is such a delight and I just loved it to pieces.

Recommended by Tara Summertime Punchline: A Novel

By Betty Corrello

Summertime Punchline reads like a love letter to comedy nerds. This will be your new favorite summer romance.

Recommended by Lindsay You Should Be So Lucky: A Novel

By Cat Sebastian

I don’t care very much about baseball, but I do care about a cranky midcentury sweater gay falling for a shortstop with a sunny disposition. Yay sports!

Recommended by Patsy The Sicilian Inheritance: A Novel

By Jo Piazza

This captivating tale of three generations of determined women is a great summer read: family saga, compelling mystery, and the splendor of Sicily. You’ll want to book a plane ticket!

Recommended by Jordan Honey: A Novel

By Isabel Banta

In this coming of age novel, pop star Amber Young navigates the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight, complete with love, friendship, trauma, and twists. This glorious escape into 90s girl group and music culture will be a great addition to your summer TBR.

Recommended by A.J. Familiaris

By David Wroblewski

An epic spanning the majority of the first half of the 20th Century in Middle America. But—the best part—several of the main characters are dogs. Wroblewski beautifully examines not only interpersonal, but also the unique interspecies relationships we experience with man’s best friend. A long, meandering read that pays dividends. Plus! Oprah pick!

Recommended by Raegyn Five Broken Blades (Deluxe Limited Edition)

By Mai Corland

Five liars and a ruthless king enter a room. Who comes out? To these liars, seduction, betrayal, and revenge come as easy as sweat on skin, and they will stop at nothing to kill the unkillable King Joon. But can they trust each other to finish the job? Five Broken Blades is the wine to satiate our thirsts after Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows with its delicious tension, high stakes, and unforgettable characters.

Recommended by Jenness Kittentits

By Holly Wilson

Molly is a motherless, foul-mouthed 10-year old living in her dad’s Quaker halfway house in the outskirts of Chicago. When her new best friend/ex-con Jeanie fakes her death, Molly runs away to the World’s Fair on a slightly bonkers, totally engrossing adventure culminating in her attempt to raise the dead on Near Year’s Eve 1992. Full of childlike wonder and hope.

Recommended by Kathy Malas: A Novel

By Marcela Fuentes

I’m a fan of fiction focused on Mexican Americans, and this one is especially captivating. Set in a small Texas border town, two women across generations strike up an unusual friendship. What do a 15 year old and a grandmother have in common? Secrets, secrets and more secrets drive the plot of this compelling book.

Recommended by Maddie Hey, Zoey

By Sarah Crossan

Dolores’s life is thrown completely off course when she discovers her husband has been hiding Zoey — not a mistress, but an AI sex doll he’s been keeping in their garage for months. Seriously, what is she supposed to do with this information? When Dolores brings Zoey into the house, she’s forced to confront all kinds of ideas about herself, her marriage, and what it means to be a woman or even a person in the world.

NONFICTION & POETRYRecommended by Ashby Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses 

By David Scheel, Laurel “Yoyo” Scheel (Illustrator)

Watching My Octopus Teacher then reading Remarkably Bright Creatures made me curious. This book helped me understand octopuses. I was mesmerized by Scheel’s stories and facts. His first description, swimming with an octopus missing an eye and limb, made both author and reader want to know the story. His 25 years of studying them provide individual stories and the larger context of their survival methods.

Recommended by Lauren Consent: A Memoir

By Jill Ciment

Thought-provoking, loving, and tragic all at the same. Jill Ciment reflects on her marriage post-MeToo movement, posing the question – can she still say her marriage was blissful and loving if it started with her art teacher, thirty years older than her, preying on her when she was sixteen?

Recommended by Chelsea Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America

By Joy-Ann Reid

This biography uses the love between Medgar and Myrlie as a springboard to examine both of their lives and legacies. Reid deftly handles the the balance between historical and intimate details, truly bringing to life Medgar and Myrlie. I picked this up as I continue to fill the gaps in my USA history knowledge, and this would be the perfect book for anyone looking to do the same.

Recommended by Rachel Gay Girl Prayers

By Emily Austin

A reimagining of biblical texts to celebrate queer joy. I was so enraptured by the humor and wit in these poems! Such a clever reclamation of religious spaces.

Recommended by AshbyYou Make the World Better 

By Jennifer Pletsch, M. H. Clark, Jessica Phoenix (Illustrator)

This is the perfect book to let someone know they do indeed make the world a better place. Specifically, the person has made YOUR world better. The perfect way to let someone know how much he or she means to you and how much meaning the person has brought to your life. Plan to have copies on hand to celebrate people who make each day better.

Recommended by Katie I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris

By Glynnis MacNicol

At its surface, MacNicol’s newest memoir is an ode to physical touch, intimacy and joy post-pandemic, as well as a beautiful travelogue through Paris. But all of that is just a smokescreen for a book that reflects on and celebrates women who choose to unapologetically live outside the conventions of marriage and children. This is my favorite kind of book and I soaked up all of the wisdom in its pages.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Tara Magnolia Parks (The Magnolia Parks Universe #1)

By Jessa Hastings

If you’ve been waiting for your sign to pick up the Magnolia Parks series- this is it! Perfect for the fashion obsessed, Magnolia Parks centers around London’s elite friend group which is precarious due to the on again/off again relationship between BJ and Magnolia. You will laugh, cry, and save outfit inspo to your Pinterest board.

Recommended by Ester Spells for Forgetting: A Novel

By Adrienne Young

August Salt never meant to return to Saoirse Island, but after 14 years he has no choice but to confront his haunted past. While Saoirse is seemingly idyllic, this close-knit town is quick to point fingers– one of those fingers pointed at August, the alleged murderer of beloved Lily Morgan. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Spells for Forgetting is tale of ancestral magic, tea shoppes, and love.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Wartime Sisters: A Novel

By Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Wartime Sisters is the story of two estranged sisters who reunite at the Springfield Armory in the early days of war. They each have a secret that will explode with the arrival of someone from their past. This is an intriguing novel of family on the home front during WWII.

Recommended by Elizabeth Talking at Night: A Novel

By Claire Daverley

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you are free to judge this book by its cover. In the same way that young love often feels like a blazing sunrise obscured by morning fog, so Will and Rosie’s relationship spans the most glorious and perplexing moments of adolescence. If you enjoyed Normal People, but wished (like me) for a different ending, this book is for you.

Recommended by Katie The Girls

By John Bowen

At the recommendation of a customer, I picked up this weird little novel and to my utter delight I loved every single second of it. A darkly funny and deeply macabre story about two cottage core lesbians who end up brutally murdering a visitor/former lover/father of their child and the town that seems completely unbothered by the crime.

Recommended by Rachel Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America

By Dahlia Lithwick

A necessary read in the current political climate, Lady Justice expertly tells the story of heroic female lawyers who had been unknowingly preparing all their lives to fight legal battles in a post-Trump America.

Recommended by Naomi Anxious People: A Novel

By Fredrik Backman

An apartment open house quickly becomes the world’s most confusing hostage situation when a misguided bank robber accidentally barges into the building. However, nobody is who they seem to be, and they begin to wonder who the hostage truly is…

Recommended by Patsy Stories from the Attic

By William Gay

Gay’s posthumous volume places him squarely in the world of Southern Gothic fiction, echoing Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy. His gritty short stories of characters from the far side of the tracks had me turning the pages with a bit of trepidation, but I couldn’t stop reading. Longtime fans will appreciate the sections of memoirs included. I loved it so much the publisher even put this blurb on the back cover.

First Editions Club: July Selection Bear: A Novel

By Julia Phillips

I’ve always loved fairytales, in part because I like believing that magic can intercede into life’s dreariness and that, for better or worse, fate can change. Sam and Elena are sisters, working class and poor, living on an island in the Pacific Northwest. They’re also Snow White and Rose Red. They struggle through their dead end jobs while taking care of their mother. She’s young but bedridden, having developed a debilitating lung disease after spending her life as a nail tech. The family is exhausted, in debt, and crushed by the hopeless grind of their days. It’s impossible to imagine how their circumstances could change, until one day Sam, who works in the snack bar of a ferry, sees a bear swimming alongside the boat.

A bear, swimming in the Puget Sound.

It’s thrilling, and later, when the sisters see the bear walking in the forest, it’s terrifying. But in a strange way the terror feels good. Isn’t it better to be scared of a bear than it is to be scared that your life is never going to change? The bear is a point of gossip and disbelief in their small community. The bear, if such a thing were possible, seems interested in the sisters, or maybe he’s just interested in Elena. Danger has been to their house before, and those memories start to return as the bear gets closer.

In this book, Julia Phillips has set down an indelible tale. Bear is going to stay with me for a long time, the way fairytales will.

Enjoy.

Ann Patchett

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Love, Parnassus: July Selection The Next Best Fling (Librarians in Love)

By Gabriella Gamez

We are turning the heat all the way up this July for our Love, Parnassus pick and we couldn’t be more excited. The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez follows two broken hearts, Marcella and Theo, after they decide that the best way to get over their first loves is with a no-strings-attached relationship with each other. It’s an perfectly spicy spin on the fake-dating trope we love so much, and it’s one of our favorites of 2024.

“Sweet and funny, with just the right amount of spice, Gabriella Gamez’s delightful debut is everything you can want in a romance.”—Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author of Pardon My Frenchie”

“The Next Best Fling is my favorite kind of romance—heartfelt, humorous, and pitch-perfect hot. I fell head over heels for Gamez’s portrayal of deep personal growth, of love that supports and celebrates every step of that healing journey.”—Chloe Liese, USA Today bestselling author of Only and Forever

The Love, Parnassus box is a monthly subscription box for romance readers curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Each month you will receive a first edition book (which is sometimes signed), a letter from the author, a custom sticker, and a bookmark to track your reading. The Love, Parnassus selection will focus on debut and new-to-you romance authors. Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite romance reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Summer Is Here: 19 New Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

School’s out, books out! We’ve rounded up some poolside, beachside, backyard, front porch, under covers with a flashlight reads for the young and young at heart that are sure to delight. If you’re looking to balance out your just-for-fun summer reading with required school summer reading, don’t forget about our special section in store! We’ve collected lists from schools across Nashville and are standing by to help you pick the perfect book that will check all your academic boxes.

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Chelsea Ursula Upside Down

By Corey R. Tabor

Ursula lives in a wonderful world with sun rays on the bottom and the river above her, until a fellow fish asks her why she’s upside down. Is she upside down, or is she the one who is right side up? Readers will delight in getting oriented to Ursula’s world and swimming alongside her in the beautiful illustrations.

Recommended by Rae Ann Finding Things

By Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)

This is a delightful picture book that explores connections, the luck of perfect timing, and nature.

Recommended by Cheryl The Suitcase

By Daniela Sosa

A little boy loves staying with his grandparents but gets a little bored, so he starts exploring. He discovers a suitcase in the attic filled with memorabilia and pictures. Who are these people? It was a mystery that was solved by careful observation.

Recommended by Chelsea If You Spot a Shell

By Aimée Sicuro

I adored If You Find a Leaf last fall, and now Sicuro is back with her beautiful collages for summer. This delightfully perfect read encourages creativity and keen observation of the world around us. If a beach trip is in your future, be sure to grab this before you go!

Recommended by Rachel The Curious Why

By Angela DiTerlizzi, Lorena Alvarez Gómez (Illustrator)

When I was little, I remember hating the gloomy feeling of boredom that would sometimes overcome me. The Curious Why cures that grey feeling by bringing the potential for magic in everyday situations and reminds me there is always more to learn!

Recommended by Rae Ann Summer Is Here

By Renée Watson, Bea Jackson (Illustrator)

Summer is Here brings the summers of my childhood back and makes me look forward to this summer with my extended family. A sweet book with beautiful illustrations.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Aly The New Girl: A Graphic Novel

By Cassandra Calin

When Lia and her family move from Romania to Canada, she leaves behind everything she’s ever known. Middle school is a particularly bad time for that to happen. Especially when you don’t speak the language. Especially when you just got your first period. Can Lia find friends to help her make it through?

Recommended by Tara Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon: The Graphic Novel

By Paula Danziger, Victoria Ying (Illustrator)

Amber Brown is back for a new generation of readers in this graphic novel edition! This would be a great fit for fans of The Babysitter’s Club graphic novels.

Recommended by Ellis, age 6 Willa the Wisp (The Fabled Stables Book #1)

By Jonathan Auxier, Olga Demidova (Illustrator)

I loved this book. The story is nice. The pictures are really cool. Auggie has a fun job.

Recommended by Aly Not If You Break Up with Me First

By G.F. Miller

Eve and Andrew have always been best friends. Suddenly, everyone at school has decided they’re dating. Can they break up without hurting the other’s feelings? Do they even want to break up? This book is full of heart and laughs and all kinds of middle school antics that will keep you hooked.

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Rae Ann The Brightwood Code

By Monica Hesse

Edda is back from the front lines of WWI where she served as a Hello Girl, a telephone operator connecting coded messages. She attempts a return to civilian life, but trauma from her past crashes into her carefully constructed new life.

Recommended by Jordan Twelfth Knight

By Alexene Farol Follmuth

Not since the 2006 comedy film She’s the Man has there been such an iconic retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Alexene Farole Follmuth (who is known for writing best selling fantasy novels under the pen name Olivie Blake) incorporates online gaming, football, and secret identities into this coming-of-age rom-com.

Recommended by Theo The Deep Dark: A Graphic Novel

By Molly Knox Ostertag

Magdalena Herrera is a loner with adult responsibilities and a bloody secret. That is until Nessa, Mag’s childhood friend, returns to their small desert town and refuses to stay at arm’s length. This comic is a moody, beautiful fable about the risks we take when sharing our full selves.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Tara Hummingbird

By Natalie Lloyd

An endearing story about a girl named Olive who has brittle bone disease and the most infectiously positive outlook on life. Perfect for fans of Wonder.

Recommended by Rachel Crier’s War

By Nina Varela

Slow burn sapphic yearning between two girls on opposite sides of the looming war? Sounds like perfection to me.

Recommended by Kathy The Iliad

By Gareth Hinds

These two beautiful graphic editions made a wonderful graduation gift for my 8th grade grandson. Take a look!

Recommended by Kathy The Odyssey

By Gareth Hinds

These two beautiful graphic editions made a wonderful graduation gift for my 8th grade grandson. Take a look!

Sprout Book Club: June Selection The Girl and the Mermaid

By Hollie Hughes, Sarah Massini (Illustrator)

The June 2024 Sprout Book Club selection is The Girl and the Mermaid by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini. Alina lives in a lighthouse by the sea with her grandmother where her grandmother weaves tales of mermaids each night. As grandmother’s stories begin to fade, a mermaid appears nearby inviting the girl to swim below where the stories live.

Early praise for the book:

“A poignant testament to the power of story.” – Kirkus

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: June Selection The Cookie Crumbles

By Tracy Badua, Alechia Dow

The June 2024 Spark Book Club pick is The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow. Laila and Lucy are best friends. The summer before eighth grade, Laila is invited to participate in the Golden Cookie Competition while Lucy documents it for a journalism project. But when a celebrity judge collapses after sampling Laila’s showstopper, she’s at the top of the suspect list in this fun mystery.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“A light-hearted read that effectively combines reality television drama with a page-turning mystery.” – Kirkus

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: June Selection Lady of Steel and Straw

By Erica Ivy Rodgers

The June 2024 ParnassusNext selection is Lady of Steel and Straw by Erica Ivy Rodgers. Lady Charlotte Sand was born to calm the restless dead, never to be a partner of a Guardian. But after her brother is killed, the family Guardian wakes from his scarecrow form for Charlotte alone. They set out for the capital city to save the hearts of other Guardians. Captain Luc de Montaigne is her enemy, but his soul reaches for Charlotte’s and grants her leniency instead of retribution. This high fantasy adventure slow-burn romance is full of high stakes adventure and clever characters.

Early praise for the novel:

“A duology opener featuring a cleverly built world populated by appealing characters.” – Kirkus

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.