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Wow, that is one popular book! I'm going to admit that i only glanced at the titles in the above lists. I absolutely must not add to my TBR this week. My goal is to reorganize my TBR, as it's quite outdated. For instance, without young children anymore and neither child planning on having children, it's time to eliminate the books about child-rearing, such as How To Help Your Child Have A Spiritual Life: A Parent's Guide To Inner Development--Annette Hollander. I'll keep the books for children, of course!

------ Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits
by Emmanuel Acho

What it is: a thought-provoking look at the possibilities that can arise when we set aside conventional wisdom to explore beyond the self-imposed limits of the "logical" path.

About the author: Former NFL linebacker and Emmy-winning broadcaster Emmanuel Acho's first book Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man was inspired by his web series of the same name, where he has interviewed guests like Matthew McConaughey and Chelsea Handler.

Reviewers say: Illogical "brims with infectious positivity" (Publishers Weekly).



------ The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found
by Frank Bruni

What it's about: This moving and reflective memoir chronicles the author's experiences and observations after a stroke destroyed his sight in one eye, put his remaining vision at risk, and encouraged him to rethink his personal and professional priorities.

About the author: Pulitzer Prize nominee Frank Bruni is a New York Times columnist and journalism professor at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. His previous books include Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be and Ambling into History.

Don't miss: the poignant yet sanguine attitude Bruni brings to his discussions of aging.



------ Moms Moving On: Real Life Advice for Conquering Divorce, Co-Parenting Through...
by Michelle Dempsey-Multack, MS, CDS

What's inside: straightforward and practical advice on getting through divorce and coming out on the other side with confidence and a new set of coping skills.

Is it for you? although anyone facing this difficult life change will find helpful and uplifting guidance here, at times the focus zooms in on the issues facing parents, such as amicable co-parenting with your ex or introducing new partners to your children.

Don't miss: the thought-provoking journal prompts sprinkled throughout, which will help readers work through questions big and small.



----- Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative
by Melissa Febos

What it is: an engaging and candid collection of essays about the stories we tell ourselves and the power of writing as a tool to help us work through our pasts, face our emotions, and thoughtfully consider our relationships.

What makes it unique: the focus on the body as part of our personal narrative and how our bodies tell their own stories about our experiences with life and love.

Reviewers say: The "whip-smart essays" in Body Work are "a wonder", and "even nonwriters will enjoy the artistry on display throughout" (Publishers Weekly).



-------- Move the Body, Heal the Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and...
by Jennifer Heisz, PhD

What it's about: the powerful connection between the health of our brains and the fitness of our bodies.

Read it for: the latest in neuroscientific research into exercise and the effects staying active can have on memory, sleep quality, and how the brain changes as we age.

You might also like: Daniel Lieberman's Exercised, which covers similar territory from an anthropological perspective and explores why physical activity is such a struggle for so many.



------ Conversations With People Who Hate Me: 12 Things I Learned from Talking to Internet...
by Dylan Marron

What it is: hopeful and thought-provoking reflections on having difficult conversations across seemingly unbridgeable divides in a world of internet trolling and toxic online vitriol.

You might also like: Letter to a Stranger by Colleen Kinder.

About the author: Actor Dylan Marron hosts the Conversations with People Who Hate Me podcast, web series Every Single Word, and is best known for playing Carlos on Welcome to Night Vale.



------ Don't Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety from a Zen Buddhist Monk
by Shunmyō Masuno

What it's about: techniques for managing stress and anxiety based in the teachings of Zen Buddhism.

Why you might like it: This straightforward guide features practical and accessible advice that both Buddhists and non-Buddhists can benefit from, with simple exercises to help readers develop their mindfulness skills.

Reviewers say: Don't Worry is "highly recommended" and "particularly needed in recent times" (Library Journal).



------ Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability
by Summer Michaud-Skog

What it is: a comprehensive, upbeat guide to getting outside for people of all body sizes and fitness levels.

Why you might like it: In addition to the well-researched, practical advice presented here, author Summer Michaud-Skog includes reflections on self-care, the value of community, and the power of representation for marginalized groups rarely depicted in outdoorsy media.

Don't miss: the overview of how to choose your hiking gear and commiseration with readers who struggle to find athletic apparel that fits their bodies.



------- Write for Your Life
by Anna Quindlen

What it's about: the case for developing a writing practice as way of connecting with ourselves and each other, even for those who "don't, won't, or think they can't write."

Why you should read it: Write for Your Life makes a persuasive, timely argument for the power of writing regularly to help us make sense of big questions through reflection on smaller, everyday life experiences.

Reviewers say: "Highly recommended for those looking to come to terms with their lives and the world around them" (Library Journal).



------- The Art of Talking with Children: The Simple Keys to Nurturing Kindness, Creativity, and...
by Rebecca Rolland, EdD

What's inside: well-researched advice for connecting with the young people in your life through meaningful and productive conversation.

Topics include: setting aside time for structured discussions of important issues; engaging with taciturn teens; the power of conversation to instill confidence and empathy.

For fans of: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish; Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields.

I have been writing quite a bit in the last year, mostly about my family with an eye toward giving them to our children. These include bios of relatives, incidents in my life and stories about the kids when younger. I mention this because i think i'll read Anna Quindlen's Write for Your Life. There are times i feel as though my depictions are flat and i'm failing those i hope to memorialize.

I'm also interested in Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability because there isn't much addressing the needs of those who don't "fit" athletic images. I hope Summer Michaud-Skog inspires.

Nice list, Alias. Thank you.

madrano wrote: "I have been writing quite a bit in the last year, mostly about my family with an eye toward giving them to our children. These include bios of relatives, incidents in my life and stories about the ..."

That's sounds like a wonderful project, deb.

As to hiking, I've only done a few simple day hikes. It's fun.

I enjoy hikes, particularly when there is an end goal. Sadly, we had no hikes on our vacation, all walks were destination-bound.

------ In every generation
by Kendare Blake

Follow the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.



------ The charm offensive : a novel
by Alison Cochrun

Successful producer on the long-running reality dating show Ever After, Dev Deshpande, with his own love life in complete disarray, falls for contestant Charlie Winshaw who has better chemistry with him than any of his female co-stars.



------ The recovery agent
by Janet Evanovich

A #1 New York Times best-selling author returns with the launch of a new series that blends wild adventure, appealing characters, and humor



----- Lawn boy
by Jonathan Evison

Faced with a life of menial prospects in the years after high school, Mike Muñoz, a young Mexican-American, attempts over and over to change his life for the better and achieve the American dream, only to be stymied by social-class distinctions and cultural discrimination



------Celtic tales : fairy tales and stories of enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales ; illustrations by Kate Forrester
by Kate Forrester

Presents sixteen stories adapted from Celtic folklore



------ The raw shark texts
by Steven Hall

Waking up in a place he does not recognise and unable to remember who he is, attacked by a force he cannot see and confronted with memories he cannot ignore, Eric Sanderson discovers he is being hunted by a psychic predatory shark that may exist only in his mind but soon starts making some very real appearances in his world.



----- Wraith
by Joe Hill

Joe Hill's New York Times Bestselling novel, NOS4A2, introduced readers to the terrifying funhouse world of Christmasland, and the mad man who rules there: Charlie Talent Manx III. Now, in an original new comic mini-series, Hill throws wide the candy cane gates to tell a standalone story that is at once both accessible to new readers, and sure to delight fans of the book



----- White smoke : a novel
by Tiffany D. Jackson

Believing her new home to actually be alive, especially when her brother almost dies, Marigold and her new blended family won’t be safe until she brings the truth to light once and for all.



----- Unlocked : an oral history of Haden's syndome
by John Scalzi

In the near future Haden's syndrome ravages the Earth, changing society forever



------ What happened to the Bennetts
by Lisa Scottoline

Forced into the witness protection program after being caught in the crosshairs of a drug-trafficking organization, Jason Bennett and his family, trapped in an unfamiliar life, start falling apart at the seams until Jason takes matters into his own hands after a shocking truth is revealed.



------ The Fiancee
by Kate White

Sensing that something is off with her brother-in-law’s new fiancé, Hannah, who is a fellow actress, Summer, finding her suspicions ignored, investigates just how far Hannah is willing to go to keep her perfect image intact when a family member is murdered.



----- The black tides of Heaven
by Neon Yang

The story centers around the twin children of the Protector, whose magic powers cause them to become entangled in the political machinations of their mother.
Book Group Selections



----- A long petal of the sea : a novel
by Isabel Allende

Sponsored by the poet Pablo Neruda to flee the violence of the Spanish Civil War, a pregnant widow and an army doctor unite in an arranged marriage only to be swept up by the early days of World War II.


------ The last runaway
by Tracy Chevalier

Forced to leave England and struggling with illness in the wake of a family tragedy, Quaker Honor Bright is forced to rely on strangers in the harsh landscape of 1850 Ohio and is compelled to join the Underground Railroad network to help runaway slaves escape to freedom

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------ A Harmless Lie
by Sara Blædel

Series alert: Though A Harmless Lie is the 10th crime novel starring Danish police investigator Louise Rick, it stands well enough on its own to be a great place for new readers to dive into the series.

What it's about: Louise's well-earned vacation in Thailand is interrupted by news that her brother Mikkel has attempted suicide after being left by his wife Trine. When the police suspect that Trine's disappearance wasn't voluntary, it's up to Louise to discover the truth and save her brother.

For fans of: gritty Scandinavian crime series starring women detectives like the Ann Lindell novels by Kjell Eriksson or the Fredrika Bergman mysteries by Kristina Ohlsson.



------ Cold Snap
by Marc Cameron

What it is: a richly detailed disaster thriller and the 4th novel in the series starring Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter.

This time: The small plane carrying Marshal Cutter and the four criminals in his charge crashes in the icy Alaskan wilderness, where the cold temperatures and grizzly bears won't be the only threats to his survival.

Read it for: the strong sense of place, well-developed characters, and pulse-pounding action sequences.



----- Blood Will Tell
by Heather Chavez

The setup: School teacher and single mom Frankie Barrera has always been the responsible one, regularly cleaning up the messes her reckless younger sister Izzy leaves in her wake.

What goes wrong: Frankie's car is implicated in the abduction of a minor and knowing that Izzy is the only other person with access to the keys. Now Frankie will not just need to discover what really happened, but also reckon with her complex relationship with her sister and their shared past.

Why you might like it: While author Heather Chavez delivers the twisty thrills readers enjoyed about her debut novel No Bad Deed, she also paints a moving portrait of deep (if deeply dysfunctional) sisterly bond.



----- The Shadow House
by Anna Downes

What it's about: Australian single mom Alex escapes an abusive relationship with her teenage son and infant daughter in tow, leaving Sydney for the idyllic, off-the-grid village of Pine Ridge. As she settles into her new life, a series of creepy -- and creepily familiar -- things begin to occur, which all seem tied to an abandoned farmhouse nearby.

For fans of: small-town suspense and gothic fiction where a derelict house is haunted by the secrets of its inhabitants.

Reviewers say: "Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this one, but they may think twice about moving to an eco-village" (Booklist).



----- An Honest Lie
by Tarryn Fisher

What it is: a moody, nonlinear story of a Las Vegas girls' weekend gone horribly wrong after the kidnapping of one attendee, which has ties to the shadowy past of another.

Starring: artist and cult survivor Rainy, who reluctantly agrees to go on the trip in a desperate attempt to befriend the wives of her boyfriend's buddies.

Try this next: The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan; A Deadly Influence by Mike Omer.



------ Bad Actors
by Mick Herron

Series alert: Bad Actors is the 8th entry in the Slough House series, which follows a group of demoted MI5 agents whose other professional failings belie their knack for handling unusual and undesirable cases.

This time: The group's erstwhile leader Jackson Lamb sees an opportunity in their newest case to take down his longtime nemesis, agency chief Diana Taverner, but first he must track down a missing superforecaster who might have embarrassing clandestine ties with the Russian intelligence community.

Media buzz: Slow Horses is the Apple TV+ adaptation of the Slough House series that stars Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.



------ The Secrets We Share
by Edwin Hill

Starring: alcoholic Boston police detective Natalie; her glamorous and successful sister Glenn, an online influencer about to release her first book.

What it's about: Like the brutal family trauma that bonded the sisters 20 years earlier, a violent act close to home will send both of their lives and careers into disarray as they try to uncover the truth.

About the author: The Secrets We Share is a standalone thriller by Agatha award nominee Edwin Hill, best known for the Hester Thursby series.



------ Redemption
by Michael Lawson

What it is: a compelling and intricately plotted standalone legal thriller by the author of the politics-focused Joe DeMarco series.

The setup: Disgraced Wall Street broker Jamison Maddox managed to avoid jail time after a felony conviction for insider trading but is struggling to find work until he's offered a research job at a small-town firm in Illinois.

What goes wrong: Jamison's clients begin dying under suspicious circumstances, and a dalliance with a married colleague reveals information about the firm's hidden agenda that might put his career and possibly his life in jeopardy.



------ The Lying Club
by Annie Ward

Starring: Natalie Bellman, a new staff member at the elite Falcon Academy who has a tendency to self-medicate; Asha and Brooke, frenemies and moms of the school's star soccer players.

What they share: an attraction to soccer coach Nicholas Maguire, who Natalie manages to hook up with just before a brutal assault brings uncomfortable truths to light about the school and its erstwhile athletic director.

For fans of: dark academia; Layne Fargo, Megan Abbott, and Christopher Yates.



------ Beat the Devils
by Josh Weiss

What it's about: At the height of an alternate history version of the Red Scare, LAPD detective and Holocaust survivor Morris Baker is investigating a double murder when he accidentally discovers a political plot that could shake Los Angeles to its core.

Cameos by: Walter Cronkite, John Huston, Wernher von Braun, Humphrey Bogart, and Edward R. Murrow.

You might also like: suspenseful alternate history like Dennis Bock's The Good German or S.M. Stirling's Theater of Spies.

I'm sure fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries will relish the idea of a new series from her--The Recovery Agent. Just reading about this South American adventure has me feeling the humidity. :-(

There are a number of tempting titles listed but i'm trying to hold firm. And yet...and yet..

------- The Woman in the Library: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill


"Freddie is at the Boston Public Library when a murder occurs. While waiting for the police, she strikes up a conversation with others at her table. The four become friends, but could one of them be the murderer? Much misdirection and an unreliable narrator make for a tight little thriller that will have you sure you know whodunnit until you don't. For fans of The Body in the Library, Magpie Murders, and The Hunting Party."

Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi




------- The Dead Romantics
by Ashley Poston

"What would you do if your editor demands that you deliver a finished romance novel tomorrow, but you think romance is dead? And what if he turns up as a ghost on your doorstep the next day? An unputdownable romance that is also about family and death, reconciliation and creativity, stress and the supernatural. For fans of The Love Hypothesis and Go Hex Yourself."

Rebecca Whalon, Lakeland Public Library, Lakeland, FL
NoveList read-alike: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick



------ Fake It Till You Bake It: A Novel
by Jamie Wesley

"When fashionable, privileged Jada is cut off by her parents, her NFL-team-owning grandmother suggests that she work at a cupcake shop --one that happens to be owned by player Donovan Dell, the sexy but stuck-up guy Jada insulted previously. Neither of them counted on the sweet and spicy vibes that grow between them. A frothy fun read perfect for fans of Ten Rules for Faking It and The Dating Plan."

Laura Eckert, Clermont County Public Library, Milford, OH
NoveList read-alike: A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Cana



----- Flying Solo: A Novel
by Linda Holmes

"Laurie faces a crossroads. She has just canceled a seemingly perfect wedding and flown across the country to deal with a beloved aunt's estate. Among her aunt's things, she finds a wooden duck decoy that sends her on a journey to discover its origins, and in the process, herself. A terrific follow up to Evvie Drake Takes Over and great for fans of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird."

Ron Block, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH
NoveList read-alike: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny



------ Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: A Novel
by Clare Pooley

"Iona is a bold woman of a certain age who navigates life without hesitation. When she breaks one of her rules, and speaks with her fellow train passengers, it leads to all sorts of wonderful connections. Iona strives to fix the lives of others, never suspecting that she might be the one in need of friendship, support, and advice. For fans of Oona Out of Order and Anxious People."

Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, Huntington Station, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams



------ The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark

"Journalist Kat befriends con artist Meg in hopes of exposing her in revenge for a past wrong. As they get close, the shifting points of view reveal layers of deception between two masterful manipulators. For fans of fast-paced thrillers in the vein of Mary Kubica and Jessica Knoll."

Sonia Reppe, Stickney-Forest View Public Library District, Stickney, IL
NoveList read-alike: Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner



------- The Measure: A Novel
by Nikki Erlick

"Imagine receiving a mysterious string that tells you exactly how long you'll live. Now imagine everyone in the world getting their own string. This is the type of book that changes your thoughts on life and lingers for a long time. Perfect for book clubs who loved The Immortalists and The Age of Miracles."

Karen Troutman, Walton Tipton Township Library, Walton, IN
NoveList read-alike: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi



------ Nora Goes Off Script
by Annabel Monaghan

"Nora Hamilton is a TV writer who pens a script based on her disaster of a broken marriage. Next thing she knows, a film crew arrives at her country home with two famous actors in tow. What follows is one of the funniest, heartbreaking-ist and most endearing stories you will read. For fans of Jasmine Guillory and Emily Henry."

Stephanie Piro, Rochester Public Library, Rochester, NH
NoveList read-alike: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade



------- The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes: A Novel
by Cat Sebastian

"Marian, Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. (He deserved it.) The only person who can help her now is highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks. Rob and Marian have madcap escapades and hijinks as they flee London in this Georgian romance that's absolute perfection. For readers of KJ Charles and Evie Dunmore."

Lindsey Bray, Omaha Public Library, Omaha, NE
NoveList read-alike: Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander: A Bisexual Regency Romance by Ann Herendeen



-------- Tracy Flick Can't Win: A Novel
by Tom Perrotta

"Tracy Flick is back and better than ever. Or, at least, she WOULD be if she could just nab that job as high school principal. With wry commentary on the education scene and the politics of "having it all," this sequel to Election will entrance Gen X readers and a whole new generation, too. For fans of Gary Shteyngart and Curtis Sittenfeld."

Erin Downey Howerton, Wichita Public Library, Wichita, KS
NoveList read-alike: Everything Is Just Fine by Brett Paesel

What a list! I see that Tracy Flick Can't Win is labeled Tracy Flick #2, presuming Tom Perrottais going to make a series of this? Reese Witherspoon was perfect in this role in Election. I haven't read the first and probably won't this one, but i immediately knew who we were talking about!

I don't know where i heard of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting but i already have it on my library hold list. I'm thinking someone mentioned Clare Pooley's earlier book, The Authenticity Project and the author stayed in my mind.

Deb, funny you should pick out those two. They caught my eye and I put them on my TBR list.

I put a library hold on the audio of the Authenticity Project. I have reach my hold limit at the library (10) so can put Tracy Flick on hold at this time.

Is the hold limit still due to Covid or has this always been the case? Neither of my libraries (i have two) have a limit on holds but one does have a limit of books that can be checked out at one time--a limit of 50! Honestly, this surprises me.

madrano wrote: "Is the hold limit still due to Covid or has this always been the case? Neither of my libraries (i have two) have a limit on holds but one does have a limit of books that can be checked out at one t..."

Re: NYC library

Yes. It's always been a hold of 10 books of all types. (audio, eBook, paperbook)

You may borrow up to 50 physical items at a time on your library card, and up to 20 downloadable titles (across Overdrive and Libby combined).

I think you can renew unlimited times if there are no holds on the item.

Good info, Alias. My only interaction with that NYC library has been when i've used our daughter's card, so time is rather limited anyway. I wonder how many libraries limit that way?

Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "Is the hold limit still due to Covid or has this always been the case? Neither of my libraries (i have two) have a limit on holds but one does have a limit of books that can be chec..."

Our library has a hold limit of 5 video games checked out at a time which are mostly taken out by teen boys. I am not sure about books or other materials.

I just emailed my head of circulation. At our library you can put holds on up to 75 books or items (except for video games) but according to her, nobody has gotten close to that limit!

Good point about videos and games, Julie. Most of the libraries i have frequented across the nation had a limit on such items.

The 75 limit is probably true of a number of libraries but we just aren't aware. I can't imagine checking out that many of anything! Even when my children were young and their books were slender, we never checked out more than 20. Frankly, for us, i feared we would misplace them when they were due. :-)

Julie wrote: "I just emailed my head of circulation. At our library you can put holds on up to 75 books or items (except for video games) but according to her, nobody has gotten close to that limit!"

Wow !

madrano wrote: "The 75 limit is probably true of a number of libraries but we just aren't aware. I can't imagine checking out that many of anything! Even when my children were young and their books were slender, we never checked out more than 20. Frankly, for us, i feared we would misplace them when they were due. :-)
.."

Deb, the numbers for putting holds on an item is not the same thing as how many physical items can you walk into the library and take out.

Deb, the 10 limit is eBooks/ audio books you can put on hold. It is not the number of items you can take out.

You can borrow up to 20 downloadable titles (across Overdrive and Libby combined), and place up to 10 holds at a time.

That limit to take out is 50 for physical books. And you can
keep renewing the item you have out as long as no one else has a hold on it.

You can place up to 15 holds on any circulating items in the Library collection with the exception of reference, special collections, and magazines and journals

It can get confusing. 😲

Indeed!

Again, i'm surprised there is a limit on holds. I suppose it's to prevent a person from suddenly having all 20 of their holds come in at once or something. To be fair, the idea of "wish lists", which i now see on my library's web site, is new since the advent of eBooks. Now, i suspect, "wish list" kinda replaces "holds" for many people.

With all this info, i'm more & more grateful for what i have, i must say.

madrano wrote: "Indeed!

Again, i'm surprised there is a limit on holds. I suppose it's to prevent a person from suddenly having all 20 of their holds come in at once or something. "

No. You can suspend your hold if you are not ready.

I am going to guess that the reason is, people put books on hold, the book come in and the person never picks it up. This can get expensive as there are quite a lot of library branches in NYC and the books have to be transported to the library the holder designates.

I can see that happening. I've put a book or two on a suspended hold online but don't think i did so for paper books. Interesting. Thanks.

------ Nobody's Magic
by Destiny O. Birdsong

Starring: Suzette, Maple, and Agnes -- three Black women with albinism, all on the cusp of life-altering circumstances in Shreveport, Louisiana.

What it is: Each woman narrates her own story in this collection of three novellas. Without sugarcoating the locale's historical issues about race and class (or shying away from difficult topics), overall the tone is hopeful. You'll find well-developed characters of color, whose "magic" rests in defining themselves on their own terms.

What to read next? What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris.



------ Olga Dies Dreaming
by Xochitl Gonzalez

Backstory: Olga plans weddings for Manhattan's elite. Her older (secretly gay) brother is a US Congressman -- much to their mami's dismay, as she is still a radical activist for Puerto Rican independence. All continue to grieve their illustrious papi's death by heroin overdose.

What happens: Hurricane Maria lays waste to Puerto Rico, starkly highlighting the ongoing corruption of post-colonialism, the vulnerabilities of Olga's family, and whether or not her newfound romance can weather the storm.

What to read next? Velorio by Xavier Navarro Aquino.


------ Perpetual West
by Mesha Maren

What happens: Seeking an immersive experience to inform his doctoral research, Alex (Mexican by birth, adopted by American parents) and his wife Elana move to Juárez, where things quickly go sideways. Alex falls in love with a luchador -- and Elana doesn't know if he's been kidnapped or simply left her.

Read it for: a harrowing, literary depiction of gritty subject matters (drug cartel violence) and sympathetic LGBTQIA characters.

What to read next? Where We Come From by Oscar Cesares.



------ Jameela Green Ruins Everything
by Zarqa Nawaz

Prepare for: a farcical romp through religion, identity, fame, and...terrorism(?). Jameela Green prays to Allah to make her memoir a best seller. After her high-school nemesis foils that plan, a bereft Jameela visits a local mosque for the first time in decades.

Enter: Ibrahim, an earnest imam who suggests doing one good deed to court Allah's favor. Madcap adventures with new friends (and run-ins with Islamic radicals) ensue.

Read it for: "over-the-top satire" that "wields a sharp edge, particularly when it comes to commentary on American involvement in the Middle East" (Kirkus Reviews).



------ Smile and Look Pretty
by Amanda Pellegrino

Oh no, they didn't! Four assistants to powerful men in high profile industries (think news anchors, former actors, etc.) meet weekly to lament the most humiliating task they had to do.

Oh yes, they did! It's The Devil Wears Prada plus #MeToo meets Tik Tok when they start an anonymous blog revealing their bosses' awful antics. Of course it goes viral, prompting more women in "glamour industries" to speak up.

What to read next? The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker.



------ The Cherry Robbers
by Sarai Walker

Starring: artist Sylvia Wren, born Iris Chapel, one of six sisters who inherited a cursed fortune built on her father's firearms empire. Iris flees and reinvents herself. But the past has a way of catching up.

Read it for: a gothic tale that "shimmers, titillating with a heady concoction of terror and desire, frothy with fever-pitched emotions, and dark with smothering melancholy and macabre spectres" (Publishers Weekly).

What to read next? Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Keep It Short (Short Stories)



------ The Trouble with Happiness
by Tove Ditlevsen

From Copenhagen, with angst: Available in English only recently, this Danish writer's short fiction had gained wide acclaim by the time of her 1976 suicide. Her vignettes of everyday life -- its petty domestic cruelties and the tender hopefulness of connecting with one another -- still ring true.

Read it for: thinly veiled, biographical fiction that questions gender roles, class differences, and the particular challenges of being a female artist.

Want a longer read? Try Claire Messud's novel The Woman Upstairs or The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold.


------ Life Without Children
by Roddy Doyle

COVID cabin fever fuels these darkly humorous short stories. You're separated from family during lockdown -- are you sad or exhilarated (and then what do you do)? You're trapped with your spouse -- is it a love-fest or the end of everything? Will you ever take off your mask -- or just create new ones?

Reviewers say: Masterful dialogue "whether strained, deceptive, or free-flowing... makes these stories shimmer" (Publishers Weekly)

For a longer read try Gary Schteyngart's Lake Success or City of Dis by David Butler.



------ Thank You, Mr. Nixon
by Gish Jen

Nixon's 1972 visit to China ushered in a new era of US-Chinese relations. Inspired by that event, this short story collection invites readers to question whether merging cultures is ever truly possible (or desirable, or necessary).

Why you'll love it: "Jen's crisp prose, wonderful eye for detail, and wry humor make [these stories] a joy to read, and there is wisdom here, too -- we're all exiles from something" (Kirkus Reviews).

Want a longer read? Try Susie Yang's White Ivy.



------- Blank Pages
by Bernard MacLaverty

From Ireland, with love: Counted among Ireland's greatest living writers, Bernard MacLaverty deftly explores resilience, creativity, love, and faith in this "fine collection by a true craftsman, thematically rich and deeply humane" (Kirkus Reviews).

Read it for: understated meditations on mortality, with characters and settings that range from an artist's studio in early 20th-century Vienna to a present-day, middle-aged couple facing a ferry ride across rough water.

For a longer read: try The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott or Colm Tóibin's The Magician.

-------- Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs
by Juli Berwald

What it's about: Marine biologist and science writer Juli Berwald (Spineless) takes readers around the world as she documents human efforts to save coral reefs, which are among Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems.

Destinations include: a coral genetics laboratory in Texas; Sulawesi, home to the world's largest reef restoration project; and protected areas in the Dominican Republic.



------ Wired For Love: A Neuroscientist's Journey Through Romance, Loss, and the Essence of...
by Stephanie Cacioppo

What it is: neuroscientist Stephanie Cacioppo's guide to the science of romance, from how "the power of love" works to why it evolved to how it affects our mental and physical health.

Why you might like it: Blending science and memoir, Cacioppo also recounts the story of her marriage to fellow neuroscientist John, who before his death from cancer was a leading researcher of loneliness.

Did you know? Romantic love affects 12 different areas of the brain!



----- Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage
by Rachel E. Gross

What it's about: Science journalist Rachel E. Gross embarks on a quest to better understand what is commonly termed the "female reproductive system" (although it's so much more) and -- through conversations with gynecologists, medical anthropologists, surgeons, and more -- discovers just how little we know about it.

What sets it apart: Although much of the book focuses on cisgender women, its discussion of anatomy and physiology intentionally includes intersex people, transgender men, and nonbinary people of all genders.

Try these next: Vagina: A Re-Education by journalist Lynn Enright or The Wonder Down Under: The Insider's Guide to the Anatomy, Biology, and Reality of the Vagina by sex educators Ellen Stokken Dahl and Nina Brochmann.



----- We Are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing...
by Dahr Jamail and Stan Rushworth (editors)

What it is: a collection of interviews with environmental activists that centers Indigenous voices on the subject of climate change.

Further reading: Jessica Hernandez's Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science; Dina Gilio-Whitaker's As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock.



----- The Hawk's Way: Encounters With Fierce Beauty
by Sy Montgomery

What it is: an "impassioned introduction to falconry" by Sy Montgomery (The Soul of an Octopus), who reveals fascinating facts about raptors while recounting her apprenticeship as a falconer.

For fans of: Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk, Rodney Stotts' Bird Brother.

Want a taste? "Inches from my face, I hold a living dinosaur."



------- The High Sierra: A Love Story
by Kim Stanley Robinson

What it's about: science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson's lifelong love affair with California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

Why you might like it: Fans of Robinson's award-winning novels will appreciate the author's vast knowledge and characteristic attention to detail, which includes maps of the region, advice on hiking gear, deep dives into geology, and more than 100 photographs.



------- 8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World
by Jennifer D. Sciubba

The big idea: Whereas the demographic story of the 20th century was exponential population growth (from 1.6 billion people to 6.1 billion in 100 years), the narrative of the 21st is one of differential growth -- that is, the stark disparities between the world's wealthiest and poorest nations.

Why you might like it: Political demographer Jennifer D. Sciubba examines fertility, mortality, and migration trends to examine what they can tell us about the future.



----- The Life and Death of a Minke Whale in the Amazon: And Other Stories of the Brazilian...
by Fábio Zuker; translated from the Portuguese by Ezra E. Fitz

Contains: "poignant, lyrical" (Booklist) essays by Brazilian journalist Fábio Zuker that reveal the scale of environmental destruction in the Amazon, as well as the impact of this degradation on the region's Indigenous peoples.

Don't miss: the title essay, which juxtaposes the efforts of Piquiatuba villagers to aid a Minke whale stranded on the banks of the Tapajós River with the incursions of industry into the area.

------ Fifty Sounds: A Memoir of Language, Learning, and Longing
by Polly Barton

What it is: a thoughtful collection of 50 meditative essays about life in Japan, from a Brit who moved there to teach English when she was 21 and stayed for decades.

Reviewers say: This "refreshingly honest" (Kirkus Reviews) debut is "filled with linguistic surprises and a quiet intellect" (Publishers Weekly).

For fans of: books that combine language and travel, such as Jhumpa Lahiri's In Other Words, or immersive travelogues about Japan, like Hannah Kirshner's Water, Wood, and Wild Things.



----- Everything Left to Remember: My Mother, Our Memories, and a Journey Through the Rocky...
by Steph Jagger

What happened: After her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Steph Jagger took her mom on a two-week road trip, visiting national parks in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. They camped, hiked, went rafting, and rode horses, all while Steph pondered her own future and tried to learn more about her mother before it was too late.

Want a taste? "The very best part about being in nature is that the truth meets you there, which is also the reason it's hardest to go."

Read this next: For another reflective book, try Braver than You Think by Maggie Downs, who took the trip of her mother's dreams, visiting 17 countries, after her mom no longer could.



----- The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific
by Brandon Presser

What it is: a mix of history and travelogue focused on remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean, where the HMS Bounty mutineers hid from British authorities in 1789, starting new lives with their Tahitian wives, and where today 48 people live, most of whom are descended from the original mutineers.

What happened: Arriving via container ship, author Brandon Presser tried to get to know the islanders, some of whom were reticent to talk. While waiting three months for the next ship, he delved deep into the island's history, explored, and endured bugs and nightly power cuts.



----- The High Sierra: A Love Story
by Kim Stanley Robinson

What it is: an eclectic, richly detailed look at California's Sierra Nevada mountains that combines memoir, travelogue, geology, and natural history, by award-winning science fiction novelist Kim Stanley Robinson, who's hiked the area over 100 times since 1973.

Don't miss: the evocative writing, the color photos and illustrations (many by the author himself), and the eye-opening chapter about hiking the Swiss Alps.

For fans of: Terry Tempest Williams, Barry Lopez.



----- Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau
by Ben Shattuck

The first steps: Without much of a plan and little more than some bread, cheese, and a notebook (but no sunscreen), Ben Shattuck set out to retrace Henry David Thoreau's walk along Cape Cod's outer beaches.

What happened: Taking five more of Thoreau's walks, Shattuck observed animals and landscapes, met intriguing people, pondered life and anxiety, and saw the restorative effect of walking in nature.

Why you might like it: Six Walks showcases lyrical prose, lovely illustrations, and fascinating details about Thoreau.
On the Menu: Culinary Treats



------ Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy's Food Culture
by Matt Goulding

What it is: a fun and informative foodie tour of Italy that covers culture and history and highlights the chefs, shepherds, fisherman, farmers, and others who bring the pizzas, pastas, and other regional delicacies to life.

Read this next: Frances Mayes' See You in the Piazza; Anthony Bourdain's writings; other books by the author, such as Rice, Noodle, Fish or Grape, Olive, Pig.



------ Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World's Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers...
by Rowan Jacobsen

What happened: an award-winning author traveled to Italy, France, Eastern Europe, the U.S., and Canada, unearthing all he could about the secretive world of truffles, meeting truffle hunters, chefs, and others, in order to explain the appeal of the expensive ingredient that grows underground and is located by truffle-sniffing dogs and pigs.

For fans of: Pig, the 2021 film starring Nicolas Cage; Ian Purkayastha's coming-of-age memoir, Truffle Boy.

Reviewers say: "altogether delightful" (Kirkus Reviews); "well written and full of interesting characters and fascinating facts" (Library Journal).



------ Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef's Journey to Discover America's New Melting-Pot Cuisine
by Edward Lee

What it is: an upbeat, richly detailed travelogue and food memoir (with 40 recipes) by Brooklyn-born chef and restaurateur Edward Lee, who spent two years traveling the U.S. learning about different food cultures.

Recipes include: Green Tea Beignets, Hasenpfeffer, My Version of a Slaw Dog, Fried Pork Chops with Miso Creamed Corn and Pickle Juice Gravy, Octopus Stir Fry, Lacy Cornbread with Rhubarb Jam.

Winner of... the 2019 James Beard Award for Writing.



----- My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris
by Alexander Lobrano

What it is: the engaging memoir of a James Beard Award-winning writer that addresses his childhood and youth, but centers on his time in Paris, where he became an influential food critic and a resident for over 30 years.

What's inside: details about adapting to life and work in a new country when he wasn't fluent in the language, his search to to find delicious food in various settings, and a list of 30 recommended restaurants.

For fans of: David Lebovitz's books, David Downie's A Taste of Paris, and Ann Mah's Mastering the Art of French Eating.



----- Cheese, Wine, and Bread: Discovering the Magic of Fermentation in England, Italy...
by Katie Quinn

What it is: a charming travelogue with recipes, by a personable YouTube star who worked and traveled in three countries to educate herself about French breads, English cheeses, and Italian wines.

Why you might like it: Cheese, Wine, and Bread has engaging stories, clearly explained science, color photos, and charming illustrations.

Reviewers say: "Quinn's ability to transport readers into new adventures matches the best of travel writing" (Booklist).

While i've never read a Kim Stanley Robinson novel, i'm drawn to the material in The High Sierra: A Love Story. It sounds as though he has trod on every square inch of the area.

Just as my mind suggested there are far too many books about food published, i see Cheese, Wine, and Bread: Discovering the Magic of Fermentation in England, Italy, and France. Katie Quinn's work could be quite good, covering some of the science of those foods. I'm particularly fascinated by yeasts and cave cheeses.

Nice selection, Alias. Thank you.

You're welcome.

madrano wrote: "While i've never read a Kim Stanley Robinson novel, i'm drawn to the material in The High Sierra: A Love Story. It sounds as though he has trod on every square inch of..."

Deb, This was my review of Robinson's most recent novel, The Ministry for the Future: /review/show...

Larry, thanks for sharing your insightful review. Amusing that you referenced the book i'm now reading (over a long period of time, i hasten to add). I'm a rather discursive writer myself, as i fear my posts on this board may sometimes reveal. My one qualification is that the book/writing must maintain my interest in those wanderings. Sterne has managed to do so, and in an oddly humorous manner. Other writers fail me but that's all a matter of taste, i believe.

I can see why the Robinson book would appeal to readers today. We are at a crux moment and few are willing to take the action needed to protect and defend the environment. I appreciate your attention in sharing your thoughts on this one, Larry, as i've not heard of it.

----- The Vanishing Type
by Ellery Adams

Love is in the air: Miracle Springs, North Carolina, book store owner Nora and the other women of The Secret, Book, and Scone Society help Deputy Andrews propose to their friend and fellow member Hester during a screening of Little Women.

The problem: Someone defaces copies of The Scarlet Letter by removing the word "Hester," and a stranger is murdered.

Who it's for: This 5th outing for Nora will please book-centric cozy fans and others who enjoy small-town mysteries starring a core group of friends.



----- Pay Dirt Road
by Samantha Jayne Allen

The setup: Adrift in her small Texas hometown, new college grad Annie McIntyre waitresses and parties with her cousin.

What happens: After a young coworker is murdered and found on Annie's family's land, she teams up with her detective grandfather to get justice for her friend, learning about the PI trade as they hunt a killer.

Did you know? This layered debut mystery novel won the Tony Hillerman Prize and paints "a dark picture of hardscrabble Texas" (Kirkus Reviews).



----- A Rip Through Time
by Kelley Armstrong

Away from home: In Edinburgh visiting her dying grandmother, Canadian homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is attacked and wakes up in 1869 as an injured housemaid.

Living in the past: Mallory's doctor employer, with help from a police officer, investigates a murder. Believing it's linked to her own attack, Mallory thinks if they can find the killer, she'll also find a way back home.

For fans of: other British-set mysteries with well-wrought supernatural elements, like Julie McElwain's Kendra Donovan mysteries (starting with A Murder in Time), Paraic O'Donnell's Gothic-tinged The House on Vesper Sands, or Oscar de Muriel's Frey and McGray novels.



----- The Sacred Bridge
by Anne Hillerman

What happens: While visiting Lake Powell, Navajo Nation Police Sgt. Jim Chee finds a murdered Navajo artist and agrees to help the local police. Back home in New Mexico, his wife, officer Bernadette Manuelito, goes undercover to find the Mercedes-driving killer of a hitchhiker.

Series alert: This is the 7th book in Anne Hillerman's popular Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series, which is an offshoot of her late father Tony Hillerman's beloved Leaphorn and Chee novels.

Read this next: William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor mysteries; David Heska Wanbli Weiden's Winter Counts.



----- An Eternal Lei
by Naomi Hirahara

Pandemic problems: Leilani Santiago is in Hawaii trying to save her family's shaved ice business, but COVID hits, ceasing tourist business.

More problems: Leilani and her sisters rescue a drowning Japanese woman wearing a special lei, who's then hospitalized in a coma. Knowing the lei came from her best friend's flower shop, Leilani investigates and finds more than she bargained for when a murder occurs.

Why you might like it: This evocative 2nd in the Leilani Santiago series "seamlessly integrates real-life Covid impacts into a plot that's peopled with fully realized characters" (Publishers Weekly).



----- The Marlow Murder Club
by Robert Thorogood

Starring: Judith Potts, a 77-year-old happily living on her own in a somewhat crumbling mansion outside of an English town, who drinks, works crossword puzzles, and generally does what she likes.

The club: One evening while swimming in the Thames, Judith hears a gunshot and discovers her neighbor murdered. Setting out to solve the case, she teams up with a dog walker, the vicar's wife, and a cop who's in over her head.

For fans of: Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club books, Agatha Christie, and Helene Tursten's An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good.


** Vacation Interrupted **


------ April in Spain
by John Banville

What happens: While vacationing in Franco's Spain with his wife, Quirke, a Dublin pathologist, sees a young woman he thought was dead and summons his daughter, who'd been her friend, as well as an Irish detective. Meanwhile, an Irish killer is also headed to the country.

Series alert: This is the 8th and most recent Quirke mystery, but it's the first published under the Booker Prize-winning author's real name (previous entries appeared under the pseudonym Benjamin Black).

Reviewers say: "This leisurely paced tale crackles with the kinetic energy of an approaching thunderstorm" (Booklist); "Great fun from a masterful writer"(Kirkus Reviews).



------- Mimi Lee Cracks the Code
by Jennifer J. Chow

Starring: Mimi Lee, a Los Angeles pet groomer who has a telepathic cat named Marshmallow and a lawyer boyfriend named Josh.

What happens: When a friend offers the use of her Catalina Island rental property for free, Mimi, Josh, and Marshmallow expect good times, but what they get is murder and strange island happenings.

Series alert: This 3rd Sassy Cat mystery has "original characters, clever banter, and a laid-back California vibe" (Publishers Weekly).



------ In a Midnight Wood
by Ellen Hart

What happens: Attending an arts festival in the small town of Castle Lake, Minnesota, Jane Lawless, a 53-year-old restaurateur and true crime podcast host, and her best friend investigate after the bones of a long-missing teenager are unearthed in a local cemetery.

Read it for: personable characters; an intricate plot; chapters that alternate between the time of the murder and the present day.

Series alert: Though this is the 27th entry in the award-winning Jane Lawless mysteries, newcomers can start here.



------ The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
by Alexander McCall Smith

What it's about: After lots of pushing by her ambitious co-director, Mma Precious Ramotswe, owner of Botswana's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, takes some vacation days.

What happens: In addition to helping an abused boy, Mma Ramotswe can't help herself and secretly helps a part-time employee of the agency on a case involving a war hero.

Series alert: This is the charming 16th entry in the leisurely paced No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The most recent novel, the 22nd outing for Precious, is The Joy and Light Bus Company.

Neat list, Alias. I'm grateful for the introduction to Naomi Hirahara's series, set in Covid times, in Hawai'i. First in the series is Iced in Paradise. How intriguing that the main character's occupation is selling shaved ice! Then, i plan to follow up with the one listed above, An Eternal Lei.

Anne Hillerman has continued her father, Tony Hillerman's Navajo series but i haven't read any. Has anyone here tried one? Since it's the same characters, they probably keep readers interested.

Nice crop of books!

madrano wrote: "
Anne Hillerman has continued her father, Tony Hillerman's Navajo series"

I didn't know that was her father.

Yes, hers has been a success story. I cannot recall specifics but i believe they wrote a book or two in the series jointly, as well.

------ A Proposal They Can't Refuse
by Natalie Caña

Starring: Kamilah Vega and Liam Kane, childhood friends-turned-enemies who fake an engagement to appease their matchmaking grandfathers, who aren't above a bit of blackmail to get what they want.

What's at stake: the future of El Coquí, the Vega family restaurant, as well as that of Kane Distillery, which occupies the same building.

Why you might like it: Set against the backdrop of Chicago's rapidly gentrifying Humboldt Park neighborhood, this warmhearted debut introduces two close-knit working-class families, one Irish American and one Puerto Rican.



----- A Lady for a Duke
by Alexis Hall

A new beginning: Missing in action after the Battle of Waterloo, soldier Viola Carroll leaves her former life (and title) behind to live openly as a woman.

An old friend: An unexpected reunion with Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood, places Viola in a precarious position: should she say nothing and allow her friend to keep blaming himself for her "death," or reveal the truth and sacrifice the life she's worked so hard to build?

You might also like: Mary Balogh's Survivors' Club septet.



----- From Bad to Cursed
by Lana Harper

What happens: rebellious Isidora "Issa" Avramov and her "lawful good" nemesis, Rowan Thorn, join forces to unmask a saboteur who's threatening to derail their town's Beltane celebrations.

Is it for you? Issa, who narrates, possesses and employs an exuberantly profane vocabulary.

Series alert: From Bad to Cursed is the 2nd book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, after Payback's A Witch.



----- A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
by Adriana Herrera

Paris, 1889: Black Dominican heiress Luz Alana Heith-Benzan attends the Exposition Universelle to promote her family's rum business and embarks on a marriage of convenience with James Evanston Sinclair, the heir to a Scottish dukedom who owns a whiskey distillery.

Series alert: This engaging and well-researched novel kicks off the Las Léonas series, which follows four 19th-century Dominican women who travel the world and find love.

For fans of: Vanessa Riley's Rogues and Remarkable Women series.



----- Something Wilder
by Christina Lauren

Introducing: Lily Wilder, daughter of treasure hunter Duke Wilder, who makes her living guiding tourists through Utah's red rock country using her father's treasure maps; and Lily's old flame, Leo Grady, who reenters her life when he shows up with his friends for a "guys' trip" vacation.

Think: National Treasure meets City Slickers meets Romancing the Stone.

Reviewers say: This standalone novel by popular author duo Christina Lauren is "equal parts exhilarating puzzle-filled adventure and steamy second-chance romance" (Booklist).



----- West Side Love Story
by Priscilla Oliveras

Two households, alike in dignity: the musical Montero familia and their sworn enemies, the Capuletas, have spent decades feuding.

In fair San Antonio... Angelo Montero of the reigning champions Los Reyes and Mariana Capuleta of the up-and-coming, all-female Mariachi Las Nubes fight their feelings as their families compete in the Battle of the Mariachi Bands.

You might also like: Alana Quintana Albertson's Ramón and Julieta.



----- Wicked Beauty
by Katee Robert

Welcome to: Olympus City, ruled by the wealthy and powerful Thirteen, who style themselves after the Greek Gods.

Where you'll meet: Achilles Kallis and his partner Patroclus Fotos, who embark on a relationship with Helen Kasios, who has thrown her hat in the ring to become the new Ares.

Series alert: Wicked Beauty is the steamy 3rd installment of the Dark Olympus series, which begins with Neon Gods and Electric Idol.


------- The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes
by Cat Sebastian

Starring: unconventional Marian Hayes, a new mother who befriends and then falls in love with her blackmailer, Rob Brooks, a career criminal who comes to Marian's aid when she goes on the lam after shooting her abusive husband.

Can you start here? The plot of this Robin Hood-themed 2nd book in Cat Sebastian's rollicking Georgian romance series unfolds parallel to the events of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb.



----- The Bride Goes Rogue
by Joanna Shupe

His misdeed: Katharine Delafield, betrothed since childhood to Preston Clarke, the son of her father's business partner, is furious when she discovers that her intended has no plans to marry her.

Her revenge: Katharine attends the risqué French Ball at Madison Square Garden, where she begins a steamy affair with a masked stranger who turns out to be...her very own fiancé.

Series alert: The Bride Goes Rogue is the 3rd installment of the Fifth Avenue Rebels series, which begins with The Heiress Hunt.

----- The puzzler : one man's quest to solve the most baffling puzzles ever, from crosswords to jigsaws to the meaning of life
Jacobs, A. J., 1968- author.
"The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically goes on a journey to understand the enduring power of puzzles: why we love them, what they do to our brains, and how they can improve our world"-


----- The soulmate equation
Lauren, Christina, author.
"For readers of The Rosie Project and One Plus One, an "entertaining and moving" novel about what happens when a matchmaking company finds an ideal match in an unlikely pair, by the author of The Unhoneymooners"-


----- Loving Edie : how a dog afraid of everything taught me to be brave
May, Meredith, author.
"Edie is an unusually anxious dog. She cowers around most people and the slightest noise sends her into a frenzy. Edie's fears become so intense that May can't leave the house. Is this normal puppy behavior or something more? May grows determined to fix Edie, but what will she do if Edie can't be fixed? In this poignant and heartfelt memoir, May shares her unforgettable journey with Edie, and the lessons about selflessness and unconditional love that she learns along the way. From treating Edie with CBD gummies to visiting a dog medium, May shows just how far she is willing to go to save her dog. But maybe Edie is secretly the one doing the saving, if May will only open her heart."-


----- Trailed : one woman's quest to solve the Shenandoah murders
Miles, Kathryn, 1974- author.
"An account of the unsolved murder of two women in Shenandoah National Park, by a journalist with unprecedented access to all key elements of the case, and a story that reveals the challenges of wilderness forensics and the failures of our justice system"--


----- Owls of the eastern ice : a quest to find and save the world's largest owl
Slaght, Jonathan C., author.
"A young field scientist and conservationist tracks the elusive Blakiston's Fish Owl in the forbidding reaches of eastern Russia."-- Provided by publisher.


---------The Dancing Plague
Brookes, Gareth
The Dancing Plague tells a true story, from 1518, when hundreds of inhabitants of Strasbourg were suddenly seized by the strange and unstoppable compulsion to dance, from the imagined perspective of Mary, one of its witnesses. Prone to mystic visions as a child, betrayed in the convent to which she flees, then abused by her loutish husband, Mary endures her life as an oppressed and ultimately scapegoated woman with courage, strength, and inspiring beauty. As difficult to interpret now (as a psychological reaction to social injustice?) as it was then (as a collective demonic possession?), the story of the "Dancing Plague" finds suitably extraordinary expression in the utterly unique mixed-media style Gareth Brookes has devised to tell it. The pioneering blend of his trademark "pyrographic" technique with sumptuously colourful (and literal) embroidery perfectly reflects, in a beautiful work of art, the enduring fragility of our human condition - from "choreomania" to coronavirus.


----- Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
Cho, Nam-ju
In a small, tidy apartment on the outskirts of ... Seoul, Kim Jiyoung--a millennial 'everywoman'--spends her days caring for her infant daughter. Her husband, however, worries over a strange symptom that has recently appeared: Jiyoung has begun to impersonate the voices of other women--dead and alive, both known and unknown to her ... As she plunges deeper into this psychosis, Jiyoung's concerned husband sends her to a psychiatrist, who listens to her narrate her own life story--from her birth to a family who expected a son, to elementary school teachers who policed girls' outfits, to male coworkers who installed hidden cameras in women's restrooms and posted the photos online.


----- Get a Life, Chloe Brown: A Novel
Hibbert, Talia
Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. She's come up with seven directives to help her "Get a Life", and she's already completed the first: finally moving out of her family's mansion. She's ready to enjoy a drunken night out, ride a motorcycle, and other adventures. But it's not easy being bad, and Chloe knows just the man to help her complete her list. Redford 'Red' Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and sex appeal, who paints at night but hides his work. When she enlists Red to help her rebel, she discovers what really lies beneath his rough exterior.


------ The Kiss Quotient: A Novel
Hoang, Helen
Stella Lane comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional--which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. With the looks of a K-drama star and the martial arts moves to match, the Vietnamese-Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer. And when she comes up with a lesson plan, he proves willing to help her check off all the boxes--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position. Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic.


------ 12 Notes: On Life and Creativity
Jones, Quincy
12 Notes is a self-development guide that will affirm that creativity is a calling that can and should be answered, no matter your age or experience. Drawing from his own life, and those of his many creative collaborators past and present, Quincy Jones presents readers with lessons that are hardworking and accessible, yet speak to the passion of self-expression. He includes sections as deep as how to transform grief into power, and as practical as how to set goals and articulate intentions through daily affirmations. Weaving his story throughout, Jones lets readers in on his own creative process, as well as the importance of letting honesty, hard work, and good relationships drive your career.


----- Red Paint: An Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk
LaPointe, Sasha taqwšeblu
Sasha taqwšeblu LaPointe, a Coast Salish indigenous woman, has always longed for a sense of home. As a child her family moved around frequently, often staying in barely habitable church attics and trailers, dangerous places for young Sasha. As an adolescent determined to escape the poverty and abuse of her childhood in order to build a better future for herself and her people, Sasha throws herself headlong into the world, with little more to guide her than a passion for the thriving punk scene of the Pacific Northwest and a desire to live up to the responsibility of being the namesake of her beloved great-grandmother, a linguist who helped preserve her indigineous language of Lushootseed and one in a long line of powerful ancestors.


------ The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Loss, Courage, and a Girl Saved by the Bees
May, Meredith
Meredith May recalls the first time a honeybee crawled on her arm. She was five years old, her parents had recently split and suddenly she found herself in the care of her grandfather, an eccentric beekeeper who made honey in a rusty old military bus in the yard. That first close encounter was at once terrifying and exhilarating for May, and in that moment she discovered that everything she needed to know about life and family was right before her eyes, in the secret world of bees.


------ The Hawk's Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty
Montgomery, Sy
When Sy Montgomery went to spend a day at falconer Nancy Cowan's farm, home to a dozen magnificent birds of prey, it was the start of a deep love affair. Nancy allowed her to work with Jazz, a feisty, four-year-old, female Harris's hawk with a wingspan of more than four feet. Not a pet, Jazz was a fierce predator with talons that could pierce skin and bone and yet, she was willing to work with a human to hunt. From the first moment Jazz swept down from a tree and landed on Sy's leather gloved fist, Sy fell under the hawk's magnetic spell. Over the next few years, Sy spent more time with these magnificent creatures, getting to know their extraordinary abilities and instincts. They are deeply emotional animals, quick to show anger and frustration, and can hold a grudge for years. But they are also loyal and intensely aware of their surroundings. In this mesmerizing account, featuring sixteen pages of gorgeous color photographs, Sy passionately and vividly reveals the wondrous world of hawks and what they can teach us about nature, life, and love.


------ The Perfect Guests
Rous, Emma
1980: Beth Soames is fourteen years old when a kind couple finds her playing the violin at her orphanage's yearly fund-raiser. The Averills take her home with them to Raven Hall ... At times, Beth ... dreams she's truly part of the family--until she's asked to take part in what seems like a harmless game ... Present day: Sadie Langton is an actress struggling to make ends meet when she lands a well-paying gig attending a weekend party. Her anonymous employer sends her a suitcase of clothing, a dossier of the role she is to play, and instructions--it's strange, but she needs the money, and when she sees the stunning manor she'll be staying at she can't resist the chance.


----- Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times
Walker, Alan
Comprehensive and engaging, and written in highly readable prose, the biography wears its scholarship lightly: this is a book suited as much for the professional pianist as it is for the casual music lover. Just as he did in his definitive biography of Liszt, Walker illuminates Chopin and his music with unprecedented clarity in this magisterial biography, bringing to life one of the nineteenth century's most confounding, beloved, and legendary artists.

Alias Reader wrote: "


----- The puzzler : one man's quest to solve the most baffling puzzles ever, from crosswords to jigsaws to the meaning of life
Jacobs, A. J., 1968- author.
"The New York Times bestselling author..."

I was hoping the graphic would show if i quoted from the above post. It's a neat one. And it illustrates that first book well, i think. The Puzzler--A.J. Jacobs nicely.

Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders--Kathryn Miles sounds intriguing. I don't recall hearing about the murders. It's well reviewed by GR readers.

And if anyone needs encouragement to read the above-mentioned Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl--Jonathan C. Slaght, i'll prove it. The author is a field scientist who researched the Blakiston Owl while in frigid Russia, tracking them for several years earlier this century. I learned about that part of Russia, the owls (biggest in the world) and scientific research.

madrano wrote: "I was hoping the graphic would show if i quoted from the above post. It's a neat one. And it illustrates that first book well, i think. The Puzzler--A.J. Jacobs nicely..."

Deb, I thought this would be the title that grabbed your eye

----- Red Paint: An Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk
LaPointe, Sasha taqwšeblu
Sasha taqwšeblu LaPointe, a Coast Salish indigenous woman

Alias, you do know me. I meant to add that title but became carried away with my Owl thoughts & neglected to continue.

Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk does sound good. When my husband worked in Indian Health Service out of Portland, he sometimes had to go to that area for clinic reviews & such. He liked the scenery and drive there particularly. I look forward to reading Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe's book.

The image i was wondering about was the cartoonish man with glasses looking into a large book. Something about it called to me. It's old-fashioned look, i guess.

madrano wrote: "Alias, you do know me. I meant to add that title but became carried away with my Owl thoughts & neglected to continue.

Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk..."

:) My record on book recommendations for you stands intact.

I was looking for an image for the list and that one also caught my eye.

Alias Reader wrote: ":) My record on book recommendations for you stands intact...."

Yes. Nicely accomplished!

----- The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats -- and Our Response -- Will Change the World
by Ian Bremmer

The premise: "We need crises scary enough to make us forge a new international system that promotes effective cooperation on a few crucial questions."

The crises: COVID-19 and other pandemics, climate change, and the rise of digital technology.

Why you might like it: Political scientist Ian Bremmer's pragmatic yet hopeful latest offers clear-eyed solutions to tackle these three threats.



----- Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution
by Eric Jay Dolin

What it is: a spirited maritime history chronicling American privateers' efforts during the Revolutionary War.

Read it for: profiles of figures whose exploits have been forgotten or ignored by history, including Black sailmaker and abolitionist James Forten, and master-at-arms John Greenwood, who later became George Washington's personal dentist.

About the author: Historian Eric Jay Dolin is the bestselling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates.



------ African Founders: How Enslaved People Expanded American Freedom
by David Hackett Fischer

What it's about: how enslaved Africans and their cultural practices shaped colonial America.

Author alert: Brandeis University historian David Hackett Fischer is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Washington's Crossing.

Reviewers say: "a comprehensive demographic history with a powerful and important corrective thesis" (Booklist).



------ We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power
by Caleb Gayle

What it is: a compelling history exploring the enduring repercussions of the Creek Nation both enslaving Black Americans and accepting them as full tribal members.

Why it matters: Journalist Caleb Gayle's thought-provoking chronicle illuminates the complex (and often overlooked) relationship between Black and Indigenous Americans.

Further reading: An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays.



----- Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington
by James Kirchick

What it's about: how LGBTQIA government employees in 20th-century Washington, D.C. were forced to remain closeted or risk their livelihood.

Read it for: an inspiring and fast-paced chronicle of perseverance in the face of oppression.

Featuring: recently declassified documents; interviews with more than 100 people; a cast of characters grouped by presidential administration; a historical map featuring important LGBTQIA landmarks in D.C.



----- Uncertain Ground: Citizenship in an Age of Endless, Invisible War
by Phil Klay

What it is: an incisive account of the war on terrorism's toll on soldiers and civilians alike, written by National Book Award-winning author and Iraq War veteran Phil Klay (Redeployment).

What's inside: essays written over the past decade exploring themes of trauma, grief, futility, and faith.

Try this next: Un-American: A Soldier's Reckoning of Our Longest War by Erik Edstrom.



----- Resistance: The Underground War Against Hitler, 1939-1945
by Halik Kochanski

What it's about: the diverse array of resistance efforts against the Nazi regime in both Eastern and Western Europe.

Why it matters: British historian Halik Kochanski's sweeping and demythologizing account examines the complex (and often conflicting) motives exhibited by resistance movements.

Is it for you? At nearly 1,000 pages, this exhaustively researched history is best suited to readers already interested in the subject.



------ Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation
by Linda Villarosa

What it's about: how racial disparities in healthcare adversely affect Black Americans.

Author alert: Journalist Linda Villarosa expands her 2018 New York Times Magazine article on Black maternal and infant mortality rates in this sobering study.

Reviewers say: "an urgent and utterly convincing must-read" (Publishers Weekly).

------ Last Dance on the Starlight Pier
by Sarah Bird

What it's about: Evie Grace Devlin's career ambitions are on hold after news of her vaudeville past reaches administrators at her nursing school. In need of money for a fresh start, Evie finds her skills as a performer useful, however, as she gets pulled into the singular world of the Depression-era dance marathon craze.

Read it for: Evie's compelling spirit and determination; the evocative and well-rendered atmosphere.

Try this next: In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem.



------ Little Souls
by Sandra Dallas

What it is: a descriptive and engaging story of survival and chosen family set during the 1918 Influenza pandemic.

Starring: Lutie, a Denver fashion illustrator; her older sister Helen, a nurse dealing with the pandemic on the front lines; 10-year-old Dorothy, who the sisters take in after the child becomes an orphan under violent, traumatic circumstances.

Why you might like it: though the situation is dire, Helen, Lutie, and Dorothy are a compelling little family whose bonds with each other lend a hopeful air to an otherwise heavy story.



------ Shadows of Berlin
by David R. Gillham

The setup: In her postwar life in 1950s New York, Holocaust survivor Rachel Perlman struggles to carry the weight of her survivor's guilt, which her American-born husband and in-laws -- despite being Jewish themselves -- can't seem to understand.

What happens next: Her estranged uncle Fritz announces that he's found a painting by Rachel's mother, who perished in a concentration camp, and the memories associated with the artwork and its subject force Rachel to contend with everything she did to survive the war.

Read it for: the haunting depiction of Rachel hiding in plain sight in Berlin during the war and the disarmingly poetic turns of phrase that she uses to tell her story.



----- Two Storm Wood
by Philip Gray

What it's about: Just after the end of World War I, Amy Vanneck leaves England to look for her fiancé (or his body) in the devastated French countryside. After arriving at the Somme, she discovers a gruesome war crime and evidence that suggests that its perpetrator plans to kill again.

Why you might like it: Despite the darkness of Two Storm Wood's subject matter, readers will be pulled in by the moody tone and the intricate nonlinear plot structure.

Reviewers say: "Immersive and eerily atmospheric" (Booklist); "powerful historical fiction and a testament to war’s insanity" (Kirkus Reviews).



----- Mrs. England
by Stacey Halls

Starring: Ruby May, a recent graduate of the Norland Institute for the Training of Ladies as Children’s Nurses who trades London for rural Yorkshire when she accepts a job as a nanny; Charles and Lilian England, Ruby's new employers.

The problem: Hardcastle House, the stately but isolated manor of the England family, is as full of Edwardian splendor as it is full of secrets. And though Mr. England and the children in Ruby's charge are friendly, Mrs. England and other household servants are aloof and cold to her with no explanation.



----- Angels of the Pacific
by Elise Hooper

What it's about: the group of nurses known as the Angels of Bataan, who were kept as prisoners of war in the Philippines during World War II.

Read it for: the courageous and inspiring characters, who band together to save as many lives as they can under the most dire circumstances.

Reviewers say: "Heroism, strong characters, and period dialogue shine" (Booklist).



----- Forbidden City
by Vanessa Hua

What it is: the atmospheric depiction of the dramatic change in circumstances that a young girl from the countryside undergoes after her dancing skills thrust her into the heart of power in 1960s China.

Starring: Mei Xiang, who narrates her harrowing story from the safety of San Francisco as she celebrates the 1976 death of party chairman Mao Zedong.

Is it for you? Forbidden City was inspired by the stories of the many teenage girls like Mei who experienced sexual abuse after being drawn into the Chairman's inner circle.



----- A Woman of Endurance
by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa

What it's about: the role of Puerto Rico in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, explored through the story of Pola, an African woman who is used, abused, and force to bear children that her captors can sell for profit.

Why you should read it: Although Pola's ordeal is heartwrenching, her characterization is made even more compelling by her tenacious hold on her humanity and the rare moments of love and happiness she seizes for herself.

Try these next: The Prophets by Robert Jones or Things Past Telling by Sheila J. Williams, which both explore the rich inner lives enslaved people live despite their violent circumstances.



------ The Myth of Surrender
by Kelly O'Connor McNees

What it is: a character-driven and thought-provoking exploration of another side of the postwar Baby Boom known as the "Baby Scoop Era"-- the period between the 1940s and 1970s in which the rate of premarital pregnancies skyrocketed, and women faced increasing pressure to put their babies up for adoption.

Featuring: worldly Chicago waitress Doreen, pregnant from a liaison across racial lines; Margie, a naive teenager Doreen meets and befriends as the two wait for their babies to be born at the Holy Family Home for the Wayward.

Read it for: a timely reminder of the issues surrounding reproduction in the era before widespread access to contraception.



------ M: Son of the Century
by Antonio Scurati

What it is: the well-researched first entry in author Antonio Scurati's tetralogy about the life and career of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Why you should read it: Though few would dispute the role of fascism in 20th century history, more people could stand to learn more about the movement's early origins and influential figures.

Reviewers say: "A masterwork of modern Italian literature that will leave readers eager for more" (Kirkus Reviews).

The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats �� and Our Response �� Will Change the World--Ian Bremmer sounds on track to help the world save itself on some levels. The reaction to COVID surprised me, as in how did this become a political issue. It sounds as though this book addresses how it went wrong but, more importantly, what we learned to help humans through future crises.

We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power--Caleb Gayle shares one tribe's changes in looking at African Americans from colonial era forward. Even into the 1970s this was an issue. While i knew about the Creeks acceptance of blacks, i was not aware that it became an issue again in my lifetime.

These are just a couple of the interesting NFs listed. Thanks, Alias.

You're welcome, deb !

----- Deep Water
by Emma Bamford

The premise: Following a mayday message from a distant corner of the Indian Ocean, Malaysian Navy captain Danial Tengku and his crew rescue British newlywed Jake and Virginie from a stranded yacht.

The problem: Jake is severely injured and a nearly catatonic Virginie struggles to relate the harrowing ordeal that left the couple marooned so far from civilization. But can Captain Tengku believe the story he's being told?

For fans of: unreliable narrators and stories about the dark side of paradise.



----- In the Blood
by Jack Carr

Series alert: In the Blood is the fast-paced fifth entry in the Terminal List series, which follows the adventures of CIA operative and former Navy SEAL James Reece.

This time: A commercial airliner is shot down shortly after takeoff in Burkina Faso, and one of the passengers was a Mossad agent from Reece's past.

The prime suspect: Nizar Kattan, who also killed Freddy Strain, the ex-SEAL who recruited Reece to the CIA. Embarking on a quest for revenge, Reece soon learns he's both hunter and prey, and only one of them can come out on top.



----- Cleopatra's Dagger
by Carole Lawrence

The setting: Manhattan, 1880. In Central Park, Elizabeth van den Broek, the only female reporter at the city's most prominent newspaper, has stumbled across a dead body wrapped up like a mummy.

Under wraps: When her editor tells her to stick to the society pages, Elizabeth begins a clandestine investigation of the case, and of its possible connection to a serial killer, putting her career -- and maybe her life -- in serious peril.

For fans of: Victoria Thompson's Gaslit series and plucky protagonists who refuse to take no for an answer.



----- The Wild Girls
by Phoebe Morgan

What it is: the intricately plotted story of a luxurious birthday weekend gone horribly awry on safari in Botswana.

Starring: a quartet of estranged friends including London teacher Alice, new mom Grace, and deeply introverted Hannah; the birthday girl Felicity, who is nowhere to be seen when the other three arrive at their accommodations.

Read it for: the intensifying tension and looming threat of danger from the natural environment and other people.



----- The Favor
by Nora Murphy

What it's about: Leah Dawson knows what an abusive relationship looks like -- after all, she's trapped in one herself. Recognizing the signs, Leah grows curious about the marriage between her neighbors McKenna and Zack.

What goes wrong: When McKenna appears to be in mortal danger Leah decides to intervene, inadvertently setting off a chain of events that will radically upend both women's lives forever.

Reviewers say: The Favor is a "kaleidoscopic narrative" that "paints a powerful portrait of domestic abuse" (Library Journal).



----- Metropolis
by B. A. Shapiro

Where it's set: the titular Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a seemingly normal self-storage facility, where a suspicious elevator accident brings the many secrets lurking inside to light.

Tenants include: disgraced attorney Jason, who works out of his unit; Venezuelan PhD student Marta, who lives in hiding from ICE while finishing her dissertation; desperate housewife Liddy, whose unit has been turned into an unsettling shrine to her children.

Read it for: the complex web of connections that forms between the tenants and the unique ways they find to help -- or hinder -- one another.



----- Nobody But Us
by Laure Van Rensburg

What it's about: NYU grad student Ellie and her literature professor boyfriend Steven are looking forward to their weekend getaway to the Chesapeake Bay, but not for the same reasons. Neither is quite who they say they are and as the weekend progresses, it soon becomes apparent that one of them might not make it out alive.

For fans of: intricately plotted stories of revenge and exponentially escalating battles of wits.

Reviewers say: "This story of dueling mind-games and duplicity is a must-read for psychological-thriller fans, especially those with a taste for revenge" (Booklist).



----- Hide
by Kiersten White

How it's told: through the alternating perspectives of the contestants on a reality show about a playing hide and seek in a derelict amusement park to in order to claim a huge cash prize.

For fans of: Survive the Night by Riley Sager; The Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix; the Netflix series Squid Game.

About the author: Hide is the adult fiction debut of Kiersten White, whose previous work includes the young adult series Camelot Rising and the Conqueror's Saga.



------ The New Neighbor
by Carter Wilson

The good news: Superstitious bartender Aidan Marlowe has been playing the lottery for years without success, until the day his go-to numbers finally net him a $30 million payoff.

The bad news: Aidan learns of his "luck" on the same day as his beloved wife's funeral. Overwhelmed by these emotional extremes, Aidan buys a house in a small New Hampshire town where he can grieve with his children in peace, unwittingly setting off a chain of events that will put his family and their newfound fortune in serious peril.

For fans of: the atmospheric and intricately plotted thrillers of Megan Miranda.

What a variety of locations for the above thrillers. Good list, Alias.

----- We Had to Remove This Post
by Hanna Bervoets

Starring: Kayleigh, content moderator for a social media platform owned by an unnamed megacorporation.

What happens: she finds a girlfriend, likes her co-workers, and finds purpose in removing extreme, violent online content. However, hours of viewing the worst the internet has to offer soon begs the question: what is "normal," anyway?

Read (or watch) next: Bandwidth by Eliot Peper (novel), The Social Dilemma (docudrama).



------ Unlikely Animals
by Annie Hartnett

What happens: Emma leaves med school to care for her father in small-town New Hampshire. Emma's father Clive -- formerly a brilliant professor -- now contends with a fatal brain illness that causes whimsical hallucinations of animals (and the occasional ghost).

Reviewers say: "Hartnett masterfully balances a story of deep loss with the perfect amount of hilarity and tenderness" (Booklist).

Read it for: an ultimately uplifting father-daughter story, and a homey setting with Our Town vibes.



------ Sweet, Sweet Revenge Ltd
by Jonas Jonasson

What it is: a quirky, offbeat revenge farce.

What happens? Victor, a Swedish white supremacist, fathers a Black son, Kevin, and then abandons him in Kenya. Masai medicine man Ole Mbatian takes Kevin in. However, the prospect of a traditional circumcision sends Kevin running back to Sweden.

Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap: Upon his return, Kevin falls in love with Jenny -- who is recently divorced from Victor. Kevin enlists a small-time hitman to adjust Victor's attitude. Ole joins the gang and hijinks ensue.



----- Yerba Buena
by Nina LaCour

Delicious and healing: Yerba Buena is both an herb and the aptly named restaurant where Emilie and Sarah first meet. While their attraction to one another is clear, both must confront their troubled pasts to move forward.

What it is: a plot-driven multicultural love story that doesn't shy away from serious topics like infidelity and addiction.

Try this next: Zaina Arafat's You Exist Too Much.



------ Mustique Island
by Sarah McCoy

Co-starring: former beauty queen and divorcée Willy May Michael and Mustique Island, a star-studded party place for the 1970s rich and infamous.

When the party's over: The scene gets heavy after Willy May's two adult daughters arrive -- would-be model Hilly quickly overindulges in island vices, and Joanne steps in to pull Hilly up by her strappy platform sandals.

Enjoy... surprisingly heartfelt lessons about family, loyalty, and resilience -- with notes of Bacardi and suntan oil.


------ Scarlet in Blue
by Jennifer Murphy

What it's about: A mother (Scarlet Lake) and daughter (Blue) adopt aliases by choosing a crayon each time they move to escape a dangerous pursuer known only as "HIM."

Stay or go? Blue tires of stifling her musical talent and suspects that their "stalker" is a no more than a delusion resulting from her mother's schizophrenia.

Read this next: Violaine Huisman's The Book of Mother.



------ Young Mungo
by Douglas Stuart

Star-crossed lovers: Fifteen-year olds Mungo and James reside in the same Glasgow neighborhood, but live in different worlds. Mungo's Protestant family is plauged by poverty and alcoholism. It's bad enough that Mungo must hide his true self -- worse that he's fallen for James, a Catholic.

Reviewers say: "Romantic, terrifying, brutal, tender, and, in the end, sneakily hopeful" (Kirkus Reviews).

What to read next? The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis.


------ The Town of Babylon
by Alejandro Varela

Hometown drama: Gay Latino professor Andres attends his 20th high school reunion, where he encounters both his first love and the school's homophobic bully (now a store-front preacher).

What happens: Reeling from his husband's infidelity, Andres dallies with his old flame and confronts the bully-turned-minister about a decades-old hate crime.

Reviewers say: Publishers Weekly calls it "incandescent."

------ DIY Resin Crafting Projects: A Beginner's Guide to Making Clear Resin Jewelry, Paperweights...
by Teodora Petkova

What it is: a "clever guide" (Publishers Weekly) to working with resin that has color photos, step-by-step instructions, and details on materials, tools, and crafting basics (techniques, sanding, making molds, etc.).

Projects include: Bridal Bouquet Love Sign, Drink Coasters, Hair Clips, Teardrop Earrings, Found Wood Necklace, Ring Dish, Decorated Cutting Board, Rock Charm, Holiday Tree Ornament, Pyramid Paperweight.



----- Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora
by Reem Assil

What's inside: a vibrant look at San Francisco bakery owner Reem Assil's Arab heritage via recipes, photos, and family stories, plus details on bread making, hosting, setting up your kitchen, and more.

Recipes include: Arab Coffee, Za'atar spice mix, Tangy Garlic Spread, Classic Fish Stock, Beet-Tahini Spread, Chile-Onion-Stuffed Falafel, Al Pastor-Style Red-Spiced Chicken, Yemeni Honeycomb Bread.



------ The Garden Refresh: How to Give Your Yard Big Impact on a Small Budget
by Kier Holmes

What it is: a thoughtful guide for budget- and eco-conscious gardeners packed with design inspiration, upcycling ideas, top ten lists, remedies to common problems, creative tips, color photos, and more.

Reviewers say: "A great starter for novices, and a refresher for wise hands" (Booklist).



------ Ammu: Indian Home Cooking to Nourish Your Soul
by Asma Khan

What it is: a nostalgia-infused cookbook from chef and restaurateur Asma Khan, which features appealing recipes (including vegan and dairy-free options), menus, color photos, details about her life as a busy mother in London, and memories about her Kolkata childhood.

Recipes include: Shami Kabab, Methi Chicken, Machher Korma, Chicken Biryani, Lahsun Mirch Chutney, Khamiri Roti.



------ Modern Table: Kosher Recipes for Everyday Gatherings
by Kim Kushner

What it is: an "elegant and sophisticated" (Library Journal) cookbook for preparing delicious, simple kosher food for small groups.

Don't miss: helpful tips, sample menus, serving ideas, color photos.

Recipes include: Quick Golden Chicken Soup; Petite Green Salad with Spicy Green Tahini; Crispy-Skinned Salmon; Steak with Scallions, Sesame, and Mint; Crispy Mushroom Rice; Israeli-Style Cheesecake.



------ How to Create a Wildlife Garden: Bringing Nature In
by Christine and Mick Lavelle

Why you might like it: Incorporating inspiring photos and illustrations, the authors, who are accomplished British gardeners, offer a "thorough and practical guide" (Publishers Weekly) to making your outdoor areas more wildlife friendly.

Sections include: Planning and Designing a Wildlife Garden, How to Create a Wildlife Pond, a Directory of Plants, a Directory of Wildlife, Boosting Your Habitats.



----- That Noodle Life: Soulful, Savory, Spicy, Slurpy
by Mike Le and Stephanie Le

What it is: a beautifully photographed cookbook from popular food and travel bloggers who offer 75 diverse noodle recipes, plus detailed information on noodle types, cooking noodles, saucing, ingredients, etc.

Chapters include: Cozy Noods for Cozy Moods, Low Stress to Decompress, Noodle Fun for Everyone, Soup-er Noodles to the Rescue.

Recipes include: French Onion Mac and Cheese, Miso Clam Linguine, Spicy Sesame Chili Oil Noodles, Really Savory Sunday Sauce with Tagliatelle, Creamy Chicken Lasagna, The Soba Bowl.



------ Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico
by Rick Martínez

What's inside: essays about Rick Martínez's life, including his Texas childhood and career as a chef; more than 100 recipes inspired by his visits to Mexico's 32 states; pantry essentials; information about spices, herbs, and chiles; gorgeous color photos.

Recipes include: Sopa de Lima, Arroz Royo, Rajas con Creme, Nopales Enchilados, Tacos Gobernador, Frijoles Refritos, Tamales con Frijoles Negros, Carne Asada, Poc Chuc, Pollo al Pastor, Pan de Muerto.



------- My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef
by Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein; photographs by Clay Williams

What it is: a delicious follow-up to the acclaimed memoir Notes from a Young Black Chef that offers more than 125 recipes inspired by the James Beard Award winner's early years in the Bronx and Nigeria and his travels around the American South, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Don't miss: travel essays; the place of origin notes for each recipe; details on pantry items, spices, and sauces.

Recipes include: Cucumber and Avocado Salad, Stew Peas, Yellow Rice, Collard Greens, Tomato Choka, Suya, Brown Stew Chicken, Shrimp and Grits, Moi Moi, Plantain Bread, Red Velvet Cake.



------ Go Gently: Actionable Steps to Nurture Yourself and the Planet
by Bonnie Wright

What's inside: helpful tips and recipes for making small, eco-conscious changes at home; a sample of actionable steps for the wider world; a climate crisis explainer; interviews with experts.

Want a taste? "People bring their own skill sets, interests, and creativity to their application of change."

Author buzz: Best known for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, English actress and author Bonnie Wright also works with environmental groups.

Thanks for all the fresh titles, Alias. I have a friend who is an avid gardener, so i'm passing along a couple of titles which fit her bill. She tries to landscape with native plants and has been quite successful.

The Garden Refresh: How to Give Your Yard Big Impact on a Small Budget--Kier Holmes really sounds up her alley, as she is on a limited income.