The gay Pride and Prejudice retelling of our collective dreams, When Darcy Met Lizzy has all the yearning and intelligence of its source material while also adding new life. Reading this felt like falling in love with something familiar for a second time. You can feel Downing’s love for Austen in her reimagining of our …
A sensual and absorbing debut novel that was short-listed for the 2024 Booker Prize. In this tale of two vastly different women, brittle Isabel and free-spirited Eva, are thrown together in a country house in [the Netherlands] following WWII. What begins as a deeply tense relationship moves into a complex exploration of self-discovery, acceptance, and …
From Phinney Books in Seattle, WA: For a long time, we’ve been admirers of Persephone Books, both for the distinctive gray elegance of the books they publish and for the books themselves, which are by just the sort of semi-neglected writers we love to find. Tom visited their shop in London before they moved to …
A haunting and grisly story about the consequences of both repressing and giving into desire. If you’re a fan of dark horror that explores the complexity of human relationships, I really recommend that you give this one a try. –Lillian, Village Books, Bellingham, WA Expand your reading horizons with recommendations from Village Books and other …
I haven’t felt this enraptured and immersed since The Shadow of the Wind! The richly layered world and atmosphere hit me just right. Oriana and her twin brother Oriano live in an Italian village steeped in religion and superstition. Their father is a blacksmith, and their family may have entered into a dark contract that will …
J. Penner has written a story about a fantasy bake-off. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is about Arleta Starstone, a human confectioner who rises above their own social awkwardness and enters their treats into the prestigious Elven Baking Battle. Since Arleta isn’t naturally magical, she’s going to have to whip up some extra tasty treats to …
Happy news from Book Larder in Seattle, WA: Hello everyone, I’m Vivian Irving, and I’m writing today with deep gratitude and excitement to introduce myself as the new owner of Book Larder. Like many of you, the first time I walked into the store, I remember thinking, “Wow, a cookbook store… what a dream!” What I …
In the small island community of Ebey’s End, life is quiet and sort of “normal” – whatever that is. And then along comes July, newly orphaned and in need of a place to live and grow. That’s where Anita the grocer, July’s sort-of-cousin, comes in. The social worker wants to park 14-year-old July at her …
The book that inspired the Studio Ghibli movie, “Spirited Away,” available for the first time in English! This is a classic Japanese novel by the author of Temple Alley Summer and The House on the Lost Cape — two books that I’ve read with my kids and absolutely loved. –Becky, Ridgecrest Books, Shoreline, WA Find a fantastic read-together …
I absolutely loved this book! It felt very Hitchhiker’s Guide meets Dungeons and Dragons, meets The Hunger Games. The banter and emotion between Carl and Princess Donut was fantastic and the achievements and item descriptions made me laugh out loud. Couldn’t put it down. –LaTanya, Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop, WA There’s a reason this series …
