Bestseller Spotlight: Rise and Fall of Empires

Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. Titles on this week’s list had us humming “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton. “Oceans rise, empires fall…” Don’t go mad, go book shopping. Regime Change Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan (#1 Hardcover nonfiction) The Nerd Reich Gil Durán (#2 Hardcover nonfiction) Lessons from …

Aug 27, 2026

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Aug

26

2026

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Cabin by Patrick Hutchison

Cabin by Patrick Hutchison is a funny, heartfelt memoir about trading office life for a crumbling, off-the-grid cabin in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Armed with little more than determination and a complete lack of carpentry skills, Hutchison chronicles six years of renovations, mishaps, and unexpected lessons, creating a charming story about slowing down, learning …

Aug

25

2026

The Storefront

The Well-Read Moose Raises Funds for Spokane

From The Well-Read Moose August 11, 2026: Greetings Dear Friends, The devastating wildfires in Spokane are in my thoughts almost constantly. It is so hard to comprehend the losses felt by our neighbors and the challenges ahead to rebuild their lives. I tend to feel quite helpless and unsure of what I can do. My …

Aug

24

2026

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The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson

The Wild Beneath is an epic love story as well as a love letter to the ocean: its danger, mystery, and beauty. In the aftermath of a Pacific Northwest tsunami, Annie—who has lived on a sailboat nearly her whole life—is reeling on the shore, where she’s stayed behind with her best friend, Evan. Her parents and …

Aug

21

2026

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Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Another solid cast of characters from Rainbow Rowell! How does she consistently write characters I want to be friends with?? Returning to some of the themes Rowell introduced in Eleanor & Park, Cherry is learning how to love herself in a world that tells her she shouldn’t. Plus, she runs into an old crush at …

Aug

20

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Dynamic Duos

On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller List is published. Every week, we love to see what books have been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we look for something special to showcase. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. These bestsellers have paired protagonists. A Trade of Blood …

Aug

19

2026

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Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd

I was so excited when I saw this book in my publisher catalogs – Jess Kidd flirted with the mystery genre with her 2020 novel Things in Jars, which also happened to be the first of her novels that I picked up. It was so weird, dark and so delightful. She’s fully embraced the genre with …

Aug

18

2026

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Lucy in Between by Sarah Callender

Lucy is irresistible. In this beautiful, layered, emotional story about a brother’s death, a resilient young girl finds support in unexpected places. I love how believably flawed the adults are in this novel and how the relationship between Lucy and her brother are depicted with so much heart without shying away from the hard parts. …

Aug

17

2026

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The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

The gardens of Lilymoor House are enchanting, whimsical, and full of mystery. When grieving gardener Sophie escapes from the big city to spend the summer revitalizing Lilymoor in time for the bicentennial celebration, she doesn’t quite realize just how much work she is in for. A secret garden behind a blue door makes its appearance …

Aug

14

2026

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The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

Two things I love in a book: Kristina Forest’s writing, and the fake-dating trope. Noelle is normally a bridesmaid-for-hire, but when immediate sparks fly between her and Jeremiah upon meeting, he asks if she’d be willing to play along as his girlfriend for an awkward family reunion. Did I mention their family runs a well-renowned …

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