Book Recommendations

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Reliably unlucky in love, online acquaintances Justin and Emma agree to a quick summer fling. It’s an idea borne of pure desperation: Maybe if they combine their terrible luck, their individual curses will cancel each other out? It’s worth a shot! But first, Emma and Justin must purify themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. No, really. Abby Jimenez (Yours Truly) has the details.

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Following his 2018 debut There, There, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, this new novel from Tommy Orange expands the author’s already vast canvas of story and character. The interconnected narratives begin with the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, then fractal out through multiple generations and timelines. Wandering Stars documents one family’s Cheyenne bloodline and “America’s war on its own people.”

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

Fantasy readers who appreciate books about books have evidently discovered a lot to like in this debut novel from Scottish author Gareth Brown. The story concerns New York City bookseller Cassie Andrews and her latest acquisition, The Book of Doors, a hardcover beauty that opens up limitless travel opportunities. Alas for young Cassie, several other collectors are interested in this magical book. And they play rough.

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

From the author of Peace Like a River, this near-future novel features a more literary approach to traditional speculative fiction. The setup: A grieving musician sets sail on Lake Superior with a broken heart. After encountering otherworldly storms—and floating corpses—he returns to find a decaying society with desperate people exploited by a billionaire ruling class. The term plausible comes to mind. Maybe prophetic?

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

As the first book in her new series, Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched invites readers to get acquainted with an innovative new fantasy world. If nothing else, the series details a particularly cool origin story regarding dragons and orbital physics. Goodreads reviewers are also praising other core strengths: a strong and sassy female protagonist, an original new magic system, and a searing-hot love story.

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

Author and Georgetown professor Cal Newport (Deep Work) writes about practical strategies for dealing with the insane acceleration of our digital world. His latest book-length inquiry suggests specific methods for doing your best work at a sustainable pace. His No. 1 rule? Do fewer things. Newport also taps into the wisdom of previous eras, spotlighting historical overachievers like Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Georgia O’Keeffe.

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

A classic Gothic tale wrapped around a unique queer love story, My Darling Dreadful Thing introduces spirit medium Roos Beckman and her long-dead ghostly companion, Ruth. When Roos starts to fall for the still-living young widow Agnes Coop, events lead to a murder in a haunted estate. Debut author Johanna van Veen is clearly having fun with the manor-on-the-moors template while subtly tweaking old genre tropes.