We hope you enjoy these recommendations from booksellers all over the country and right here at home for your next great read. And thank you for your loyal support of independent businesses — the backbone of our communities! — during this extraordinary time.
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 Disappearing Earth
By Julia Phillips
“A thrilling and original debut novel that explores the lives of several women living in Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula whose lives are unknowingly connected by the unsolved disappearances of three girls. The mystery of the girls’ fates will keep you on the edge of your seat, but even more impressive is the way Phillips portrays the lives of her female characters—women who struggle to obtain a better life for themselves and their children, lives unencumbered by the racism, economic instability, and isolation inherent in living in a disregarded and harsh corner of Russia’s vast landscape.” (Vintage, 9780525436225, $16.95)
—Lori Feathers, Interabang Books, Dallas, TX
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 The Lightest Object in the Universe: A Novel
By Kimi Eisele
“Not many survive a pandemic that plunges humankind’s technology into darkness, and those who make it must learn how to remake the world and thrive. Two such persons are at the heart of this story: Beatrix, an activist in California, and Carson, a school principal in New York. Before the crash, they had begun a tentative long-distance love affair. Now, only faith in each other keeps them together. Carson embarks on a perilous cross-country journey to Beatrix as she begins to rebuild her community. Threatening everything is a dangerous gang of disaffected kids and a self-proclaimed prophet who claims the keys to salvation. The Lightest Object in the Universe is thought-provoking and truly entertaining. Post-apocalyptic fiction fans will not be disappointed.” (Algonquin Books, 9781643750484, $15.95)
 —Laura Simcox, Sunrise Books, High Point, NC-Indies Introduce: Outstanding debuts as selected by independent booksellers
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 Lights All Night Long: A Novel
By Lydia Fitzpatrick
“Exchange student Ilya has just arrived in the balmy heat of Louisiana from the frozen tundra of Russia. Smart, hardworking, and thoughtful, Ilya considered this journey to be the opportunity of a lifetime. But he can’t seem leave his home behind, or the brother he would do anything to save. In Lights All Night Long, Lydia Fitzpatrick juggles a coming-of-age tale, a murder mystery, and a social commentary on addiction, drug use, and corruption. And it works. Beautifully. She somehow manages to avoid all the predictable tropes of each to create this sparkling world full of hope, friendship, and the power of family in all its forms.” (Penguin Books, 9780525558750, $17)
—Erin Ball, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
-Indies Introduce: Outstanding debuts as selected by independent booksellers
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 Ordinary Girls: A Memoir
By Jaquira Díaz
“It takes a special writer to craft a memoir that’s equal parts harrowing, hopeful, clear-eyed, and emotionally acute—and that’s exactly what Jaquira Díaz has done here. She was still a child when her family moved from Puerto Rico to the slums of Miami, and she spent her teenage years negotiating a family life of addiction, dysfunction, and mental illness. Despite her experiences with crime and violence, Díaz finds solace in her friendships, strength in her heritage, and, always, a way forward. This is an utterly beautiful and vibrant book.” (Algonquin Books, 9781643750828, $16.95)
—Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks, Chicago, IL
-Indies Introduce: Outstanding debuts as selected by independent booksellers
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 The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna: A Novel
By Juliet Grames
“Stella Fortuna is a strong and stubborn woman who resists the toxicity and rigorous expectations of her time. The many near-deaths of Stella add a fantastical and heightened fairy-tale-like framework to what is actually a very authentic and well-researched tale inspired by true events. This novel is both a lovingly crafted tribute to and a stern critique of the author’s heritage.” (Ecco, 9780062862839, $17.99)
—Matt Stowe, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
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 The Ten Thousand Doors of January
By Alix E. Harrow
“I didn’t want this novel to end! Filled with magic, adventure, and—even during its darkest moments—hope, Harrow’s sweeping and whimsical storytelling is enchanting. Set in the early 1900s, the novel follows January’s journey of pinpointing her own individual identity as well as discovering her parents’ pasts. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a stunning debut novel and a perfect read for any fantasy fan!” (Redhook, 9780316421973, $16.99)
—Isabel Pless, Phoenix Books Essex, Essex Junction, VT
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 The Binding: A Novel
By Bridget Collins
“The Binding is a dark, atmospheric, heart-wrenching tale in which the binding of people’s memories into books helps them forget their darkest traumas and protect them from their crimes. The more Collins’ intricate, magical tale unwinds, the more dangerous and unruly the practice of ‘binding’ becomes. At its core, this is a story about the beauty and power of books. Ethics, emotion, and magic abound in this triumphant, beautifully woven must-read for any book lover or hopeless romantic (or both).” (William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780062838100, $17.99)
—Jackie Mann, Anderson’s Bookshops, La Grange, IL
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 The Bird King
By G. Willow Wilson
“This beautiful and adventurous hybrid of historical novel and magical fantasy explores freedom, power, faith, and love across the lush background of 15th-century Spain and its epic cultural clashes. Fans of Wilson’s Alif the Unseen will not be disappointed, nor will readers that enjoyed Helene Wecker’s The Golem and the Jinni or Salman Rushdie’s more fantastical side.” (Grove Press, 9780802148292, $16)
—Jonathan Hawpe, Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville, KY
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 Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy #1)
By Marlon James
“Black Leopard, Red Wolf is an amazing epic that launches from a familiar framework of the fantasy genre. Lovingly crafted, it immediately steals you away from your world and steeps you in one of ancient yet familiar myth and magic. The language, the beasts, the people—James’ writing is both brutal and beautiful. You’ll get the journey you want from this fantasy, but it won’t be the same trip around the block. Rather, it’s a walk off the edge of the Earth. James’ talent shines and his passion in this book is clear. This is a book to be GEEKED about, and I absolutely am.” (Riverhead Books, 9780735220188, $18)
—Olivia Valenza, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
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 Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Trilogy #1)
By Tamsyn Muir
“If sword-wielding necromancer lesbians and a crumbling space-age palace aren’t enough to sell you on this book, then let yourself be won over by the hilarious sass and reckless determination of Gideon Nav. Fascinating world-building and an irresistibly cheeky main character. Absolutely do not miss!” (Tor.com, 9781250313188, $17.99)
—Genevieve Taylor, Boulder Book Store, Boulder, CO
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 Gods of Jade and Shadow
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“A refreshing modern take on a mythology you might not be familiar with. Casiopea Tun is the put-upon servant to her rich relatives, but she is no Cinderella. In fact, she’s the one doing the rescuing—in this case, she’s saving an imprisoned Mayan death god. Bound to this smoldering former king, fierce Casiopea must use her wits and her indomitable will to overcome gods, sorcerers, ghosts, demons, and, yes, said rich relatives to restore her companion to his throne and save her own life along the way.” (Del Rey, 9780525620778, $16)
—Kim Fox, Schuler Books, Grand Rapids, MI
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 Lanny: A Novel
By Max Porter
“Max Porter again proves to be one of the most talented English-language writers working today. You can read this novel purely to enjoy the sound of the words that float through the village outside London, where it takes place. You should also read it because it delves into mythology, art, parenting, friendship, and the intersection of the mundane and the fantastic. It is a beautiful book that you will want to read in one sitting, then slowly go through a second time to take everything in.” (Graywolf Press, 9781644450208, $16)
—Dan Schwartz, Changing Hands, Phoenix, AZ
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