Fall Staff Picks

Barbara’s Pick: Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke

Barbara’s Review: “For fans of historical fiction–I heartily recommend: Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke; The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom. Time well spent with these excellent stories and writers.”

Barbara’s Pick: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

“A novel set in Renaissance Italy, and centering on the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici.” – Provided by the publisher.

Barbara’s Pick: Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

“Married to a white fur trader in 1872, a Crow Native woman has her journey to Saskatchewan interrupted when she steals two guns and saves five Nakota women who were kidnapped by drunken whiskey traders, setting off a culture war.” – Provided by the publisher.

Patrick’s Pick: The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

“The unforgettable love story of a mother blinded by loss and her husband who insists on their survival as they undertake the Syrian refugee trail to Europe.” – Provided by the publisher.

Cara’s Pick: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

“With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.” – Provided by the publisher.

Cara’s Pick: How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K.C. Davis

“How to Keep House While Drowning will introduce you to six life-changing principles that will revolutionize the way you approach home care—without endless to-do lists. Presented in 31 daily thoughts, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you feel over home care.” – Provided by the publisher.

Vi’s Pick: Pageboy by Elliot Page

Vi’s Review: “Page’s first-hand account of growing up queer in the spotlight is both a vital success story for LGBTQIA+ audiences and a starkly painted picture of the hardships he faced during crucial developmental years. Pageboy outlines subjects of gender, sexuality, mental health, and growing up within and outside of an entertainment industry heavily focused on public image. The audiobook, read by Page himself, is especially affecting and transportative.”

Alicia’s Pick: Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright

“Portia and her cousin Julian discover adventure in a hidden colony of forgotten summer houses on the shores of a swampy lake.” – Provided by the publisher.

Amy’s Pick: Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen (Expected publication: September 26, 2023)

“Wrecker needs to deal with smugglers, grave robbers, and pooping iguanas—just as soon as he finishes Zoom school. Welcome to another wild adventure in Carl Hiaasen’s Florida!” – Provided by the publisher.

Margo‘s Pick: Egypt’s Fire by Tom Phillips

“Accused of stealing a rare ruby, a down-on-his luck twelve-year-old is swept into the orbit of the world’s greatest detective you’ve never heard of to track down the true culprit. A madcap middle grade mystery series starter for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Enola Holmes.” – Provided by the publisher.

Vi’s Pick: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women by Rey Terciero, Bre Indigo & Louisa May Alcott

Vi’s Review: “Terciero and Indigo bring the March sisters to modern day New York in a graphic retelling that is equal parts tragic, hopeful, tense and joyful- you know how it is to read Little Women! The liberties taken revive the story perfectly for today’s young readers, reestablishing the meaning and importance of family in good times and bad. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy is funny and meaningful throughout, and the March sisters remain just as relatable as ever before.”

Alicia’s Pick: The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (expected publication: September 26, 2023)

“In the seventh installment in the Strike series, Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult.” – Provided by the publisher.

Amy’s Pick: Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker

“The first installment in a wonderful new series that follows the exploits of Benoît Courrèges, a policeman in a small French village where the rituals of the café still rule. Bruno — as he is affectionately nicknamed — may be the town’s only municipal policeman, but in the hearts and minds of its denizens, he is chief of police.” – Provided by the publisher.

Amy’s Pick: The Blessing Way: A Leaphorn & Chee Novel by Tony Hillerman

“Homicide is always an abomination, but there is something exceptionally disturbing about the victim discovered in a high, lonely place—a corpse with a mouth full of sand—abandoned at a crime scene seemingly devoid of tracks or useful clues. Though it goes against his better judgment, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn cannot help but suspect the hand of a supernatural killer.” – Provided by the publisher.

Jonna’s Pick: Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

“William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper. Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing. Who took Avery Wooler?” – Provided by the publisher.

Jonna’s Pick: Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

“Sometimes bad things happen to good people, so good people have to do bad things. Alice Feeney, returns with another thrilling mystery filled with drama and her trademark surprises.” – Provided by the publisher.

Jonna’s Pick: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

“Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.” – Provided by the publisher.

Cara’s Pick: My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

“True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.” – Provided by the publisher.

Debbie’s Pick: Shadow Storm (Shadow Riders #6) by Christine Feehan

“Danger inspires fierce passion when a new threat targets Chicago’s Ferraro crime family in this novel in Christine Feehan’s New York Times bestselling series.” – Provided by the publisher.

Debbie’s Pick: Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti

“Jory will do anything to reunite with and save his brothers—even kidnap the gorgeous woman who’s working to deactivate the deadly chip in their spines. But the forces determined to destroy his family won’t let them go so easily. Keeping Piper alive is more than he bargained for—and so is his burning desire for her. But with every second bringing him closer to certain death, can he afford to lose himself in her hot and willing embrace?” – Provided by the publisher.

Debbie’s Pick: The Rogue King by Abigail Owen

“Kasia Amon is a master at hiding. Who—and what—she is makes her a mark for the entire supernatural world. Especially dragon shifters. To them, she’s treasure to be taken and claimed. A golden ticket to their highest throne. But she can’t stop bursting into flames, and there’s a sexy dragon shifter in town hunting for her…” – Provided by the publisher.

Debbie’s Pick: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

“From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on a project with her nemesis—with explosive results.” – Provided by the publisher.

Cara’s Pick: In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee

“A debut YA graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl’s coming-of-age story—and a coming home story—set between a New Jersey suburb and Seoul, South Korea.” – Provided by the publisher.

Cara’s Pick: M is for Monster by Talia Dutton

“A scientist attempts to bring her younger sister back to life with unexpected results in this Frankenstein-inspired graphic novel about ghosts, identity, and family” – Provided by the publisher.

Vi’s Pick: Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 1 by Stan Sakai

Vi’s Review: “I’ve actually been tearing through the 600+ page saga volumes of Sakai’s famous rabbit ronin, but I found Usagi Yojimbo: Origins to be a wonderful and much more approachable introduction to its legacy. Reading Usagi Yojimbo feels like reading Japanese folk tales or fables; the narrative is as meditative as it is action-packed, Sakai’s cartooning is consistently outstanding, and Origins gives readers a charming look into Usagi’s backstory. Anybody interested in classic comics, Japanese history, and/or the way of the samurai will likely find Usagi Yojimbo to be a rewarding read.”

Barbara’s Pick: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Barbara’s Review: “Finding The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, as my next read was a delightful surprise. I expected the usual Rom-Com/Magical Realism fare, but discovered a book with substantially more ‘heft.’–Think the “Midnight Library” alights in the Land of Oz, after some side adventures in Narnia and Hogwarts. Though readers might more than suspect a happy ending, there are many unexpected, insightful journeys on the way there. I highly recommend this feel good read!”

Cara’s Pick: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

“Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?” – From the publisher.

For more book recommendations, try Novelist. NoveList is an electronic resource that provides book recommendations based on appeal factors, curated lists, and read-alikes for titles you enjoy. Find the “Recommended Reads Lists” located on the left side of the home page, or find read-alikes of books you’ve read and enjoyed by entering the title in the search box.