Midnight in Soap Lake Matthew Sullivan
Title: Midnight in Soap Lake
Author: Matthew Sullivan
Review: I loved this book by Washington Author Matthew Sullivan! When Abigail agreed to move with her researcher husband to Soap Lake, WA, she couldn't have anticipated that he would soon fly off to Poland for another work opportunity leaving her alone in the tiny town. On one of her many walks to pass the tedious hours, she discovers a young boy and his dead mother in the desert which leads her into the dark shadowy world of TreeTop, the town's local Urban Legend.
Review by: Jannelle
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Title: Wild Dark Shore
Author: Charlotte McConaghy
Review: Yet another stunning novel by Ms McConaghy. Incredible characters on a stunning tiny island somewhere near Antarctica. Gorgeous, mysterious, heartbreaking, beautiful.
Review by: Jan
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
Title: Cursed Bread
Author: Sophie Mackintosh
Review: A bizarre twist on a true life historical event (the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village), this post WW2 story is filled with suspense, desire, and small town power dynamics. I loved how out of this world the story felt, whilst maintaining its historical fiction roots.
Review by: Layne
What Art Does: Unfinished Theory by Brian Eno
Title: What Art Does: Unfinished Theory
Author: Brian Eno
Review: Known for his music, Brian Eno takes a look at art more generally. A small book in size, but working with some big ideas.
Review by: Ben
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Title: My Friends
Author: Fredrik Backman
Review: Oh, Mr. Backman. You’ve really done it this time! This is a story of the deepest friendships beginning in childhood.
It touches every heartstring. Do not skip one line. Absolutely fabulous!
Review by: Jan
A Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner
Title: A Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry
Author: C.M. Waggoner
This work is a lovely little adventure story settled into a richly-built world with a set of fascinating characters! It follows Delly, a street thief, who picks up a job as a bodyguard for a soon-to-be-married young woman of considerable means. What initially seems like an easy job, though, is quickly foiled when the assassination attempts against her employer begin—as Delly and her companions realize that there are other, much darker forces at play in this job.
Review by: Jo
Slewfoot by Brom
Title: Slewfoot
Author: Brom
Review: This chilling tale set in New England follows a recently-widowed young woman, Abitha, as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s strange and eerie death. Nearby, an ancient spirit awakens in the woods— provoking rumors in the nearby town about witches and darker forces at play in Abitha’s life…This is folk horror at its finest, and Brom’s illustrations throughout this work are a gripping addition! Review by: Jo
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Title: The Wicked King
Author: Holly Black
Review: I could not put this book down. Holly Black is an amazing author that always keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. If you like stories of fairies that are true to actual fairy mythology, this series is a must read!
Review by: River
Tilt by Emma Pattee
Title: Tilt
Author: Emma Pattee
Review: Heart wrenching, funny, disastrous . An experience we all hope to never have…but could it? Maybe not pregnant, but still! Set in Portland, Oregon. Written in great detail. I loved this book!
Review by: Jan
Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow
Title: Dear Bookstore
Author: Emily Arrow
Review: As a fan of books about books (and bookstores), I think this one captures the joy of books from a young age.
I'm really glad my parents got me started reading as a child. I think everyone should.
Review by: Ben
Swamplandia! - Karen Russell
Title: Swamplandia!
Author: Karen Russell
Review: This debut novel from Karen Russell is ripe with a murky, surreal Florida atmosphere as it chronicles the trials of the Bigtree family who own a declining alligator-wrestling theme park. At times darkly funny and disturbing, this is a truly unique read which began as a 2006 short story, "Ava Wrestles the Alligator."
Review by: Layne
Tree Story by Valerie Trouet
Title: Tree Story
Author: Valerie Trouet
Review: More than just counting tree rings to see a tree's age, this book expanded my understanding of dendrochronology to show how scientists are gaining insights into all kinds things like the age of old buildings and even shipwrecks.
Review by: Ben
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Title: The God of the Woods
Author: Liz Moore
Review: Deep in the woods of the Adirondack Mountains, a teenage girl has gone missing from her wealthy family’s summer camp. After her brother’s unsolved disappearance from the same camp over a decade before, and with a convicted killer on the loose, a desperate search for the truth ensues. Bouncing between both past and present cases, Moore’s book is a must-read for mystery lovers!
Review by: Bethany
The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound
Title: The Ship Beneath the Ice
Author: Mensun Bound
Review: In terms of maritime historical narratives, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more compelling than the story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition and his lost ship, the Endurance. This narrative covers both the details of Shackleton’s 1914 expedition and two modern attempts to locate the Endurance in the Weddell Sea. It tells a story of survival, courage, and perseverance in the face of seemingly impossible odds, and I can’t recommend it enough!
Review by: Jo
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton
Title: The Frozen River
Author: Ariel Lawton
Review: Historical fiction at its finest. Set in 1789, Maine. The main character is a mid-wife with a large family, a wonderful husband and a sassy horse. The struggles are real. The writing is fabulous. The perspective is different and incredibly fascinating. Highly recommend.
Review by: Jan
What the Chicken Knows by Sy Montgomery
Title: What the Chicken Knows
Author: Sy Montgomery
Review: This is a wonderful and glorious book about one of my favorite feathered friends, chickens. What’s not to love about chickens?
Review by: Julie
The Champagne Letters by Kate Macintosh
Title: The Champagne Letters
Author: Kate Macintosh
Review: As the title indicates, The Champagne Letters is a book that will appeal to lovers of Champagne! It does not disappoint. I love Champagne and I loved this book! An historical fiction novel, this will educate, fascinate and entertain all at the same time. I have to say, this will be one of my favorite books to recommend for a long time to come.
Review by: Jan
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Title: The Salt Grows Heavy
Author: Cassandra Khaw
Review: Two companions, a plague doctor and a mermaid, set out on a journey through a wood. But they certainly don’t expect to encounter a village populated entirely by a cult of cannibalistic saints and bloodthirsty children— nor the horrors that lurk within this community. This short tale is both gruesome and absolutely captivating, and it’s one that will stick with you for a long time!
Review by: Jo
A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
Title: A Thousand Heartbeats
Author: Kiera Cass
Review: How does one know when they’ve fallen in love? Princess Annika has always dreamed of falling in love, but the closest she’s come was a brief childhood crush. On the other hand, Lennox has sworn off love of any kind so as not to distract himself from his lifelong goal: taking back his kingdom that was stolen from his family. In this PG enemies-to-lovers novel, Kiera Cass does a fantastic job of pulling the readers in to listen for the sound of a thousand heartbeats.
Review by: Bethany
In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf
Title: In the Hour of Crows
Author: Dana Elmendorf
Review: This was a couldn’t-put-down book for me! Brimming with folk magic and mystery, this Southern Gothic tale immersed me in its atmosphere. The protagonist can talk death out of the dying. What happens when her loved one is killed and she must delve deep into small town secrets to unravel her complicated past?
Review by: Layne